1,010 research outputs found
Biogenesis of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier
The mitochondrial phosphate carrier (PiC) is a member of the family of inner-membrane carrier proteins which are generally synthesized without a cleavable presequence. Surprisingly, the cDNA sequences of bovine and rat PiC suggested the existence of an amino-terminal extension sequence in the precursor of PiC. By expressing PiC in vitro, we found that PiC is indeed synthesized as a larger precursor. This precursor was imported and proteolytically processed by mitochondria, whereby the correct amino-terminus of the mature protein was generated. Import of PiC showed the characteristics of mitochondrial protein uptake, such as dependence on ATP and a membrane potential and involvement of contact sites between mitochondrial outer and inner membranes. The precursor imported in vitro was correctly assembled into the functional form, demonstrating that the authentic import and assembly pathway of PiC was reconstituted when starting with the presequence-carrying precursor. These results are discussed in connection with the recently postulated role of PiC as an import receptor located in the outer membrane
Biosynthesis of Mitochondrial Porin and Insertion into the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane of Neuruspora crassa
Mitochondrial porin, the major protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane is synthesized by free cytoplasmic polysomes. The apparent molecular weight of the porin synthesized in homologous or heterologous cell-free systems is the same as that of the mature porin. Transfer in vitro of mitochondrial porin from the cytosolic fraction into the outer membrane of mitochondria could be demonstrated. Before membrane insertion, mitochondrial porin is highly sensitive to added proteinase; afterwards it is strongly protected. Binding of the precursor form to mitochondria occurs at 4°C and appears to precede insertion into the membrane. Unlike transfer of many precursor proteins into or across the inner mitochondrial membrane, assembly of the porin is not dependent on an electrical potential across the inner membrane
Biogenesis of mitochondrial porin
We review here the present knowledge about the pathway of import and assembly of porin into mitochondria and compare it to those of other mitochondrial proteins. Porin, like all outer mitochondrial membrane proteins studied so far is made as a precursor without a cleavble lsquosignalrsquo sequence; thus targeting information must reside in the mature sequence. At least part of this information appears to be located at the amino-terminal end of the molecule. Transport into mitochondria can occur post-translationally. In a first step, the porin precursor is specifically recognized on the mitochondrial surface by a protease sensitive receptor. In a second step, porin precursor inserts partially into the outer membrane. This step is mediated by a component of the import machinery common to the import pathways of precursor proteins destined for other mitochondrial subcompartments. Finally, porin is assembled to produce the functional oligomeric form of an integral membrane protein wich is characterized by its extreme protease resistance
Ab initio prediction of Boron compounds arising from Borozene: Structural and electronic properties
Structure and electronic properties of two unusual boron clusters obtained by
fusion of borozene rings has been studied by means of first principles
calculations, based on the generalized-gradient approximation of the density
functional theory, and the semiempirical tight-binding method was used for the
transport calculations. The role of disorder has also been considered with
single vacancies and substitutional atoms. Results show that the pure boron
clusters are topologically planar and characterized by (3c-2e) bonds, which can
explain, together with the aromaticity (estimated by means of NICS), the
remarkable cohesive energy values obtained. Such feature makes these systems
competitive with the most stable boron clusters to date. On the contrary, the
introduction of impurities compromises stability and planarity in both cases.
The energy gap values indicate that these clusters possess a semiconducting
character, while when the larger system is considered, zero-values of the
density of states are found exclusively within the HOMO-LUMO gap. Electron
transport calculations within the Landauer formalism confirm these indications,
showing semiconductor-like low bias differential conductance for these
stuctures. Differences and similarities with Carbon clusters are highlighted in
the discussion.Comment: 10 pages, 2 tables, 5 figure
Continuous symmetry of C60 fullerene and its derivatives
Conventionally, the Ih symmetry of fullerene C60 is accepted which is
supported by numerous calculations. However, this conclusion results from the
consideration of the molecule electron system, of its odd electrons in
particular, in a close-shell approximation without taking the electron spin
into account. Passing to the open-shell approximation has lead to both the
energy and the symmetry lowering up to Ci. Seemingly contradicting to a
high-symmetry pattern of experimental recording, particularly concerning the
molecule electronic spectra, the finding is considered in the current paper
from the continuous symmetry viewpoint. Exploiting both continuous symmetry
measure and continuous symmetry content, was shown that formal Ci symmetry of
the molecule is by 99.99% Ih. A similar continuous symmetry analysis of the
fullerene monoderivatives gives a reasonable explanation of a large variety of
their optical spectra patterns within the framework of the same C1 formal
symmetry exhibiting a strong stability of the C60 skeleton.Comment: 11 pages. 5 figures. 6 table
Hsp70 in mitochondrial biogenesis
The family of hsp70 (70 kilodalton heat shock protein) molecular chaperones plays an essential and diverse role in cellular physiology, Hsp70 proteins appear to elicit their effects by interacting with polypeptides that present domains which exhibit non-native conformations at distinct stages during their life in the cell. In this paper we review work pertaining to the functions of hsp70 proteins in chaperoning mitochondrial protein biogenesis. Hsp70 proteins function in protein synthesis, protein translocation across mitochondrial membranes, protein folding and finally the delivery of misfolded proteins to proteolytic enzymes in the mitochondrial matrix
Functional architecture of reward learning in mushroom body extrinsic neurons of larval Drosophila.
The brain adaptively integrates present sensory input, past experience, and options for future action. The insect mushroom body exemplifies how a central brain structure brings about such integration. Here we use a combination of systematic single-cell labeling, connectomics, transgenic silencing, and activation experiments to study the mushroom body at single-cell resolution, focusing on the behavioral architecture of its input and output neurons (MBINs and MBONs), and of the mushroom body intrinsic APL neuron. Our results reveal the identity and morphology of almost all of these 44 neurons in stage 3 Drosophila larvae. Upon an initial screen, functional analyses focusing on the mushroom body medial lobe uncover sparse and specific functions of its dopaminergic MBINs, its MBONs, and of the GABAergic APL neuron across three behavioral tasks, namely odor preference, taste preference, and associative learning between odor and taste. Our results thus provide a cellular-resolution study case of how brains organize behavior
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