Mitochondrial and chloroplastic targeting signals of NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase

Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Dec;87(6):963-74. doi: 10.1139/o09-066.

Abstract

Many mitochondrial and chloroplast proteins are encoded in the nucleus and subsequently imported into the organelles via active protein transport systems. While usually highly specific, some proteins are dual-targeted to both organelles. In tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), the cDNA encoding the mitochondrial isoform of NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+-ICDH) contains two translational ATG start sites, suggesting the possibility of tandem targeting signals. In this work, the putative mitochondrial and chloroplastic targeting signals from NADP+-ICDH were fused to a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) reporter to generate a series of constructs and introduced into tobacco leaves by Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation. The subsequent sub-cellular locations of the ICDH:YFP fusion proteins were then examined using confocal microscopy. Constructs predicted to be targeted to the chloroplast all localized to the chloroplast. However, this was not the case for all of the constructs that were predicted to be mitochondrial targeted. Although some constructs localized to mitochondria as expected, others appeared to be chloroplast localized. This was attributed to an additional 50 amino acid residues of the mature NADP+-ICDH protein that were present in those constructs, generated from either 'Xanthi' or 'Petit Havana' cultivars of tobacco. The results of this study raise interesting questions regarding the targeting and processing of organellar isoforms of NADP+-ICDH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Chloroplasts / enzymology*
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase* / genetics
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase* / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes* / genetics
  • Isoenzymes* / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / enzymology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana* / cytology
  • Nicotiana* / enzymology
  • Plant Proteins* / genetics
  • Plant Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Sorting Signals*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Plant Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+)