Nar1p, a conserved eukaryotic protein with similarity to Fe-only hydrogenases, functions in cytosolic iron-sulphur protein biogenesis

Biochem Soc Trans. 2005 Feb;33(Pt 1):86-9. doi: 10.1042/BST0330086.

Abstract

The genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the essential protein Nar1p that is conserved in virtually all eukaryotes and exhibits striking sequence similarity to bacterial iron-only hydrogenases. Previously, we have shown that Nar1p is an Fe-S protein and that assembly of its co-factors depends on the mitochondrial Fe-S cluster biosynthesis apparatus. Using functional studies in vivo, we demonstrated that Nar1p has an essential role in the maturation of cytosolic and nuclear, but not of mitochondrial, Fe-S proteins. Here we provide further spectroscopic evidence that Nar1p possesses two Fe-S clusters. We also show that Nar1p is required for Fe-S cluster assembly on the P-loop NTPase Nbp35p, another newly identified component of the cytosolic Fe-S protein assembly machinery. These data suggest a complex biochemical pathway of extra-mitochondrial Fe-S protein biogenesis involving unique eukaryotic proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algal Proteins / metabolism
  • Algal Proteins / physiology*
  • Anion Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Anion Transport Proteins / physiology*
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Hydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plasmids

Substances

  • Algal Proteins
  • Anion Transport Proteins
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • iron hydrogenase
  • Hydrogenase