Targeting of the tail-anchored peroxisomal membrane proteins PEX26 and PEX15 occurs through C-terminal PEX19-binding sites

J Cell Sci. 2006 Jun 15;119(Pt 12):2508-17. doi: 10.1242/jcs.02979.

Abstract

Tail-anchored proteins contain a single transmembrane domain (TMD) followed by a short C-terminal domain extending into the organellar lumen. Tail-anchored proteins are thought to target to the correct subcellular compartment by virtue of general physicochemical properties of their C-termini; however, the machineries that enable correct sorting remain largely elusive. Here we analyzed targeting of the human peroxisomal tail-anchored protein PEX26. Its C-terminal-targeting signal contains two binding sites for PEX19, the import receptor for several peroxisomal membrane proteins. One PEX19-binding site overlapped with the TMD, the other was contained within the luminal domain. Although the PEX19-binding site containing the TMD targeted to peroxisomes to some extent, the luminal site proved essential for correct targeting of the full-length protein, as it prevented PEX26 from mislocalization to mitochondria. Its function as a targeting motif was proved by its ability to insert a heterologous TMD-containing fragment into the peroxisomal membrane. Finally we show that PEX19 is essential for PEX26 import. Analysis of the yeast tail-anchored protein Pex15p revealed that it also harbors a luminal PEX19-binding site that acts as a peroxisomal-targeting motif. We conclude that C-terminal PEX19-binding sites mark tail-anchored proteins for delivery to peroxisomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peroxisomes / metabolism*
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • PEX15 protein, S cerevisiae
  • PEX26 protein, human
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • PEX19 protein, human