Arabidopsis PEX19 is a dimeric protein that binds the peroxin PEX10

Mol Membr Biol. 2006 Jul-Aug;23(4):325-36. doi: 10.1080/09687860600738221.

Abstract

Peroxisomes are organelles found in all eukaryotic cells. Peroxisomes import integral membrane proteins post-translationally, and PEX19 is a predominantly cytosolic, farnesylated protein of mammalian and yeast cells that binds multiple peroxisome membrane proteins and is required for their correct targeting/insertion to the peroxisome membrane. We report the characterisation of the Arabidopsisthaliana homologue of PEX19 which is a predominantly cytosolic protein. AtPEX19 is encoded by two genes (designated AtPEX19-1 and AtPEX19-2) that are expressed in all tissues and at all developmental stages of the plant. Quantitative real time PCR shows that AtPEX19-1 and AtPEX19-2 have distinct expression profiles. Using in vitro translation and co-immunoprecipitation AtPEX19-1 was shown to bind to the Arabidopsis peroxisomal membrane protein PEX10. Additionally, bacterially expressed recombinant AtPEX19-1 was able to bind a fusion protein consisting of the C-terminus of PEX10 and glutathione S-transferase in pull-down assays, thereby demonstrating that non-farnesylated AtPEX19 can interact with the C-terminus of AtPEX10. Purified recombinant AtPEX19-1 was analysed by gel filtration chromatography and was found to have a molecular weight consistent with it forming a dimer and a dimer was detected in Arabidopsis cell extracts that was slightly destabilised in the presence of DTT. Moreover, cross-linking studies of native AtPEX19 suggest that in vivo it is the dimeric species of the protein that preferentially forms complexes with other proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Genes, Plant
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peroxins
  • Peroxisomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • PEX10 protein, Arabidopsis
  • PEX19 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Peroxins