Correspondence to: C. Randell Brown, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033. Tel:(717) 531-0859 Fax:(717) 531-7667 E-mail:crb13{at}psu.edu.
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Abstract |
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Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is targeted to the vacuole for degradation when Saccharomyces cerevisiae are shifted from low to high glucose. Before vacuolar import, however, FBPase is sequestered inside a novel type of vesicle, the vacuole import and degradation (Vid) vesicles. Here, we reconstitute import of FBPase into isolated Vid vesicles. FBPase sequestration into Vid vesicles required ATP and cytosol, but was inhibited if ATP binding proteins were depleted from the cytosol. The heat shock protein Ssa2p was identified as one of the ATP binding proteins involved in FBPase import. A ssa2 strain exhibited a significant decrease in the rate of FBPase degradation in vivo as compared with
ssa1,
ssa3, or
ssa4 strains. Likewise, in vitro import was impaired for the
ssa2 strain, but not for the other
ssa strains. The cytosol was identified as the site of the
ssa2 defect;
ssa2 cytosol did not stimulate FBPase import into import competent Vid vesicles, but wild-type cytosol supported FBPase import into competent
ssa2 vesicles. The addition of purified recombinant Ssa2p stimulated FBPase import into
ssa2 Vid vesicles, providing
ssa2 cytosol was present. Thus, Ssa2p, as well as other undefined cytosolic proteins are required for the import of FBPase into vesicles.
Key Words: molecular chaperones, vesicle trafficking, , protein degradation, Ssa2p yeast vacuole
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Introduction |
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The vacuole of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is homologous to the lysosome of higher eukaryotes (
Other vacuole resident proteins, such as aminopeptidase 1 (AP1) and -mannosidase, are targeted from the cytoplasm to the vacuole independent of the secretory pathway (
A number of genes have been shown to play an important role in the macroautophagy process. For example, a novel ubiquitin-like conjugation system has been identified in a nonselective macroautophagy pathway that is induced under nitrogen starvation. This pathway utilizes the COOH-terminal glycine residue of Apg12 conjugated to a lysine residue of Apg5. In addition, this nonubiquitin conjugation system is dependent upon Apg10, as well as Apg7, a ubiquitin E1-like enzyme (
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), the key regulatory enzyme in gluconeogenesis in S. cerevisiae, is induced when yeast cells are grown in medium containing poor carbon sources, such as pyruvate, acetate, and oleate. FBPase is rapidly inactivated when fresh glucose is added to glucose-starved yeast cells (
Recent evidence suggests that FBPase is imported into a novel type of vesicle during the degradation process (
As the intermediate carriers in the FBPase degradation pathway, Vid vesicles are predicted to contain proteins participating in FBPase import, and also proteins mediating FBPase trafficking from the Vid vesicles to the vacuole. A number of proteins participate in the FBPase trafficking process, as determined by our genetic studies (
In mammalian cells, lysosomal degradation of proteins after starvation requires the presence of a pentapeptide sequence (
To identify molecules that participate in the FBPase targeting into Vid vesicles, we developed an in vitro system using isolated Vid vesicles and cytosol. This system reconstitutes sequestration of FBPase into Vid vesicles and provides a functional assay to identify molecules required for the import process. Here, we show that FBPase import is ATP-dependent and requires the presence of cytosol. Furthermore, we have identified the Hsp Ssa2p as an essential cytosolic component in the FBPase import into the Vid vesicles.
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Materials and Methods |
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Media and Yeast Strains
The yeast strains used in this study are listed in Table 1. Yeast were cultured in YPD (a complete medium containing 10 g/liter of Bacto yeast extract, 20 g/liter of Bacto peptone, 20 g/liter dextrose) or in YPKG (10 g/liter Bacto yeast extract, 20 g/liter Bacto peptone, 10 g/liter potassium acetate, 5 g/liter dextrose). For some experiments, yeast were cultured in a synthetic minimal medium (SD) consisting of 6.7 g/liter yeast nitrogen base without amino acids, supplemented with 20 mg/liter uracil, 20 mg/liter tryptophan, 20 mg/liter histidine, 30 mg/liter leucine, 30 mg/liter lysine, and 20 g/liter dextrose.
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Antibodies
Rabbit anti-FBPase, anti-PMA, antithiolase, anticytochrome C, and antienolase polyclonal antibody were generated by BabCo using purified proteins as antigens. Anti-Sec21p antibody was provided by Dr. C. Barlowe (Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH) and anti-Pep12p was a gift from Dr. S. Emr (University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA). Anti-HA antibody was purchased from Boehringer and an anti-Vph1p antibody was purchased from Molecular Probes. Antibodies were used at 1:2,000 dilution for Sec21p and Pep12p and at 1:10,000 dilution for Pma1p, thiolase, Vph1p, cytochrome C, enolase, HA, and FBPase.
Preparation of Purified Proteins
FBPase was purified according to the procedure described by
ATP binding proteins were isolated using ATP agarose (Sigma-Aldrich) immobilized on cross-linked 4% beaded agarose. For some experiments, 100 µl of cytosolic proteins (1.5 mg) from wild-type (WT) cells were added directly to an ATP agarose column. The flow-through material (cytosol depleted of ATP binding proteins) was collected and saved for further use in the in vitro FBPase import experiments. ATP binding proteins were eluted with 100 µl of import buffer containing 10 mM ATP, and were likewise used in the in vitro assay. As a control, 100 µl of cytosol was passed over an agarose column lacking cross-linked ATP. For other experiments, ATP binding proteins were collected from cytosol that was partially purified using DEAE chromatography, a variation of a protocol used to purify Ssa proteins (
pYES2.1 TOPO plasmids (Invitrogen) were used to express either Ssa1p or Ssa2p. The SSA1 and SSA2 genes were linked to a His-tag coding sequence and the plasmid constructs were transformed into yeast strain HLY223. The cells were grown in SD to an OD600 = 1 and then transferred to YPGal medium (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% galactose, 0.1% raffinose) and grown to an OD600 approximating 6.0. Cells were harvested, resuspended in binding buffer (5 mM imidazole, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.9), and lysed. The yeast lysate containing soluble recombinant proteins was loaded onto His-bind Ni2+ Sepharose resin (Novagen). Ni2+ Sepharose with bound target proteins was washed with three bed volumes wash buffer (60 mM imidazole, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.9) to elute nonspecific bound contaminants. 6X-Histag protein was eluted from the Ni2+ Sepharose with elute buffer (50500 mM imidazole, 250 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.9) in 5-ml gradients and collected in 1.0-ml fractions. Collected fractions were examined via SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, and BioRad protein assay to identify the 6X-Histag protein and determine concentrations. Protein aliquots (0.5 mg/ml) were stored at -70°C before their use.
Differential Centrifugation
Yeast cells were grown in 10 ml of YPKG for 2 d at 30°C in an environmental shaker (300 rpm). Cells (OD600 = 40) were harvested by centrifugation at 500 g for 5 min and then shifted to YPD for 20 min at 30°C. At the end of incubation, 10 mM NaN3 was added to the culture and yeast cells were collected by centrifugation. Cells were resuspended in 1 cell volume of import buffer (0.4 M sorbitol, 150 mM potassium acetate, 5 mM magnesium acetate, 20 mM Hepes-KOH, pH 6.6) supplemented with 200 µg/ml phenylmethylsufonyl fluoride and 2 vol of ice-chilled glass beads (0.450.50 mm). The mixture was vortexed at the highest speed for 1 min and then chilled on ice for 5 min. This procedure was repeated five times or until >90% of the cells were disrupted as determined by light microscopy. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 700 g for 10 min. The low speed supernatant was then centrifuged at 13,000 g for 20 min in a desktop centrifuge (American Scientific Products). The 13,000 g supernatant was further centrifuged at 100,000 g for 2 h using a TLA 100.2 rotor and Beckman ultracentrifuge. The 100,000 g supernatant was further fractionated by centrifugation at 200,000 g for 2 h using the TLA 100.2 rotor. Proteins from the pellet fractions were resuspended in 100 µl SDS-loading buffer, whereas the 200,000 g supernatant was first precipitated with 10% TCA and then resuspended in 100 µl of SDS loading buffer. Proteins (15 µl) were separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes for immunoblotting. The presence of FBPase and the other marker proteins mentioned above were detected using the ECL immunoblotting procedure.
Preparation of Vid Vesicles and Cytosol
Vid vesicle material was obtained using the differential centrifugation techniques described above, with minor modifications. Yeast cells were grown in 250 ml flasks for 2 d in YPKG media to a final concentration of OD600 = 600. Cells were pelleted and resuspended in YPD media and incubated for an additional 20 min at 30°C. The cells were then chilled and pelleted at 3,000 g at 4°C. The cell pellet was resuspended in import buffer and subjected to the differential centrifugation steps as described above. After centrifugation, the pellets were resuspended in import buffer and protein concentrations were determined by BioRad protein assays. Pellet and supernatant aliquots were frozen at -70°C until use in the import assay.
The FBPase Import Assay
The FBPase import assay was based upon a modification of a technique developed by
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Results |
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Isolation of Vid Vesicles
We have developed a number of model systems to study the trafficking and degradation of FBPase (
Vid vesicles can be purified to near homogeneity via the use of a combination of differential centrifugation, sizing chromatography, and sucrose gradient centrifugation steps (
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To identify fractions that were enriched for Vid vesicles, we screened for the presence of organelle marker proteins (Fig 1 B). Vid24p was used as a marker protein to identify Vid vesicles, since this protein has been shown previously to associate with these structures (
A number of marker proteins were utilized to determine whether any other organelles fractionated with Vid vesicles. The plasma membrane ATPase was detected with an anti-Pma1p antibody, whereas an antibody directed against 3-oxoacyl CoA thiolase was used to detect peroxisomes. Pep12p, a syntaxin homologue, was used to identify endosomes (Becherer et al., 1996). An antibody against the 100-kD subunit of the vacuolar proton ATPase (Vph1p) was used to detect the vacuoles. COPI vesicles, which are involved in the retrograde transport of proteins from Golgi to ER in yeast, were detected with antibodies against Sec21p (
To further demonstrate that the 200,000-g fraction contains Vid vesicles, a sucrose gradient fraction experiment was conducted. The 200,000-g pellet was resuspended in buffer and applied to a 2050% sucrose gradient, which was then centrifuged at 100,000 g for 16 h. Fractions were collected and analyzed for the location of Vid24p. As shown in Fig 1 C, the majority of Vid24p was found in fractions 9 and 10. This is consistent with our previous report in which isolated Vid vesicles were observed to migrate to these same locations (
In Vitro Import of FBPase into Vid Vesicles
The presence of Vid vesicles in the 100,000- and 200,000-g pellets left open the possibility that this material could be used as part of an in vitro FBPase import reaction mixture. To test whether the 100,000- and 200,000-g pellets were competent for FBPase import, the pellets were incubated in the presence of an import cocktail containing ATP and an ATP regenerating system. Note that the 100,000- and 200,000-g pellets and the cytosol used in these experiments were derived from a strain in which the endogenous FBP1 gene had been deleted. Consequently, a known quantity of purified FBPase was also included in the reaction mixture. After a 20 min incubation period, proteinase K was added to degrade unprotected FBPase and the reaction was terminated by the addition of TCA. The 100,000-g pellet was not competent for FBPase import, as indicated by the absence of protected FBPase (Fig 2 A). However, there was a significant amount of protected FBPase, if both the 100,000-g supernatant and pellet were included in the reaction. Surprisingly, the 100,000-g supernatant fraction was observed to protect FBPase from proteinase K degradation even in the absence of added 100,000-g pellet (Fig 2 A). Thus, it appears that the 100,000-g supernatant contains all of the components that are necessary for FBPase import (e.g., Vid vesicles and cytosolic factors), and could potentially be used for the in vitro assay.
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To more clearly define the role that cytosolic proteins play in the import of FBPase, we subjected the 100,000-g supernatant to a further 200,000-g fractionation step. After this additional purification step, neither the 200,000-g supernatant (cytosol) nor the 200,000-g pellet (Vid vesicles) protected FBPase from proteinase K digestion (Fig 2 B). However, the combination of cytosol and Vid vesicle fractions did result in import, as indicated by the presence of protected FBPase. Interestingly, the 200,000-g cytosol could also drive import of FBPase into the 100,000-g pellet (Fig 2 C). Therefore, it appears that both the 100,000- and 200,000-g pellets contain Vid vesicles that are competent for the in vitro import of FBPase, although the 200,000-g pellet appears to be more highly enriched in Vid vesicles. In contrast to the preceeding results, a minimal amount of FBPase import was observed when cytosol was combined with the 13,000-g pellet (Fig 2 C), a fraction that is enriched in the vacuolar marker protein, Vph1p (Fig 1 B). Although we suspect that there may be some direct import of FBPase into vacuoles, we could not reconstitute this using the crude 13,000-g fraction. Therefore, this FBPase import assay appears to be specific for fractions that are enriched in Vid vesicles.
The preceding data suggests that the 100,000- and 200,000-g pellets contain Vid vesicles that protect FBPase from proteinase K digestion. To further verify the presence of membrane-bound Vid vesicles in the 200,000-g pellet, we examined the effect that detergent had on proteinase K protection. Cytosol and Vid vesicles were mixed and incubated with FBPase as described above. Under control circumstances, 2040% of the exogenously added FBPase was imported in vitro. However, when 2% Triton X-100 was added to solubolize the membranes, almost all of the exogenously added FBPase was degraded after the addition of proteinase K (Fig 2 D). This offers further support for the idea that the protected FBPase is inside a membrane sealed compartment, most likely the Vid vesicles, and that FBPase import depends upon the presence of intact Vid vesicles.
ATP and ATP Binding Proteins Play a Role in FBPase Import
In the absence of exogenously added ATP, there was little import of FBPase into Vid vesicles (Fig 3 A). However, there was a significant increase in FBPase import after the addition of ATP. Thus, it appears that ATP-dependent processes are involved in the import of FBPase into the Vid vesicles. ATP could potentially play a number of roles in the import of FBPase into Vid vesicles. ATP could interact with proteins on the surface of Vid vesicle and thereby stimulate import. Alternatively, certain cytosolic proteins may be dependent upon the presence of ATP to elicit their function. To help elucidate the site of action of these processes, cytosol was passed over an ATP agarose column to deplete this material of ATP binding proteins. The depleted cytosol was then used in the in vitro assay. Cytosol that was passed over the ATP column had a greatly reduced ability to stimulate FBPase import into Vid vesicles (Fig 3 B, lane 2). In contrast, the passage of cytosol over a 4B column had only a minor detrimental effect on FBPase import (Fig 3 B, lane 3), suggesting that the above results are due to the binding of cytosolic proteins to ATP. Furthermore, FBPase import was restored if the ATP binding material was eluted from the ATP agarose column and added to the reaction mixture (Fig 3 B, lane 4). Thus, this suggests that cytosolic ATP binding proteins play an important role in FBPase import.
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SSA2 Is Required for FBPase Import
Molecular chaperones of the hsp70 family are ATPases that are known to play an important role in the import of proteins into various organelles, such as the ER (ssa3 and
ssa4 strains degraded FBPase with kinetics similar to WT strains; there was a significant decrease in FBPase levels by 60 min, and little detectable FBPase by 120 min (Fig 4C and Fig D). This was as expected, since neither Ssa3p nor Ssa4p are constituitively expressed and, as such, should not play a role in the degradation of FBPase. In contrast, the
ssa2 strain was defective in FBPase degradation, as indicated by the continued presence of FBPase, even at the 180-min time point (Fig 4 B). Interestingly, the
ssa1 strain did not appear to be defective in FBPase degradation (Fig 4 A), even though the SSA1 gene is
97% homologous to the SSA2 gene (
ssa1
ssa2 strain exhibited a significant decrease in the rate of FBPase degradation (Fig 4 E). In contrast, the
ssa1
ssa3 strain degraded FBPase with similar kinetics to WT strains (Fig 4 F). Thus, this again suggests that Ssa2p is required for FBPase degradation, whereas Ssa1p is not.
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To determine whether the ssa1
ssa2 FBPase degradation defect could be corrected by the SSA2 gene, this strain was transformed with a plasmid containing SSA2 on a GAL-inducible promoter. Cells were grown in low glucose media in the absence (Fig 5 A) or presence (Fig 5 B) of the inducing agent (2% galactose). Cells were then shifted to glucose containing media and examined for the rate of FBPase degradation (see Fig 5 E for a quantitation of these results). The expression of Ssa2p in the
ssa1
ssa2 double-deletion strain resulted in the restoration of this strain to a WT FBPase degradation phenotype (Fig 5 B). In contrast, the induction of Ssa1p did not overcome the mutant phenotype (Fig 5 D). Furthermore, as expected, when the strains were incubated in the absence of the inducing agent, they both exhibited a mutant phenotype (Fig 5A and Fig C). Therefore, this offers further evidence that Ssa2p plays an important role in FBPase degradation, while Ssa1p apparently does not.
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The role that Ssa2p plays in the import of FBPase into vesicles was further investigated through the use of our in vitro assay. Yeast strains containing single deletions of SSA1, SSA2, SSA3, or SSA4 were shifted to glucose containing media for 20 min. The cells were harvested and cytosol and Vid vesicles were generated as described above. Neither the individual cytosol nor vesicle fractions were competent for FBPase import from any of the strains (Fig 6). However, the combination of ssa1 cytosol and vesicles resulted in a significant amount of import (Fig 6 A). Likewise, fractions derived from the
ssa3 (Fig 6 C) or
ssa4 strains (Fig 6 D) were competent for FBPase import. Thus, these fractions behave in a similar manner to cytosol and Vid vesicles derived from WT yeast strains. In contrast, the combination of
ssa2 cytosol and vesicles did not support FBPase import (Fig 6 B), offering further evidence that Ssa2p is required for import of FBPase into vesicles. As expected, cytosol and vesicles from the
ssa1
ssa3 strain exhibited WT characteristics (Fig 6 E), whereas the
ssa1
ssa2 in vitro components were defective in FBPase import (Fig 6 F).
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Cytosol Lacking Ssa2p Reduces FBPase Import
The defect in FBPase import observed for ssa2 yeast strain could be due to a number of factors. For example, Ssa2p may play a direct role in vesicular import. Alternatively, Ssa2p might exert its effect via an indirect action on other proteins that are essential for import. Finally, Ssa2p might play a role in the formation or function of the vesicles, perhaps binding to the surface of the vesicles or performing some function in the lumen of the vesicle. Our previous results using cytosol depleted of ATP binding proteins indicated that cytosolic factors play an important role in the process of FBPase import. However, whether or not these cytosolic factors included Ssa2p was not established. Therefore, to better characterize where Ssa2p exerts its effect, we began a series of experiments using various combinations of cytosol and vesicles derived from WT and
ssa2 strains (Fig 7). As shown previously, the combination of the WT cytosol and WT Vid vesicles resulted in a significant amount of FBPase import (Fig 7, lane 2), indicating that both the cytosolic and vesicle fractions were competent for FBPase import. In contrast, the combination of
ssa2 cytosol and
ssa2 Vid vesicles did not support import (Fig 7, lane 1), indicating that either one or both of these fractions was incompetent for FBPase import. To distinguish between these possibilities, WT cytosol was mixed with
ssa2 vesicles or WT vesicles were mixed with
ssa2 cytosol. The combination of WT cytosol and
ssa2 Vid vesicles resulted in FBPase import (Fig 7, lane 4). This indicates that competent vesicles can be formed in the absence of Ssa2p. On the other hand, cytosol from the
ssa2 strain failed to support FBPase import into competent WT vesicles (Fig 7, lane 3). Thus, it appears that Ssa2p must be present in the cytosol for FBPase import to occur.
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Purified Recombinant Ssa2p Stimulates FBPase Import
To further verify the role that Ssa2p plays in the import of FBPase, we began a series of experiments in which purified proteins were added to our in vitro assay. Cytosol from WT cells was passed over a DEAE column as an initial purification step. Selected DEAE fractions enriched for Ssa2p were pooled and applied to an ATP agarose column. After extensive washes, the ATP binding material was eluted with ATP and fractions were examined by SDS-PAGE and silver stain (Fig 8 A). When the cytosol and vesicle fractions from ssa2 cells were mixed, there was no detectable import of FBPase. However, if ATP binding proteins were added, we now saw an increase in the amount of FBPase import (Fig 8 B). This was a dose-dependent effect, with the optimal effect being observed after the addition of 6 µg of protein.
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The ATP binding proteins used in the preceding experiment contained Ssa proteins as determined by Western blot analysis using an antibody that recognizes both Ssa1p and Ssa2p (data not shown). Therefore, we suspected that Ssa2p was responsible for the restoration of FBPase import. However, we could not rule out the possibility that other ATP binding proteins might be responsible for this effect. Therefore, in our next experiments, we attempted to purify Ssa2p to utilize this purified protein in our in vitro assay. As a control, Ssa1p was also purified to ascertain the specificity of the effect. The SSA1 and SSA2 genes were fused with a HIS6 coding DNA. Yeast were then transformed with these constructs and the resulting tagged proteins were purified using a nickel column. A relatively homogeneous protein profile was obtained using this procedure (Fig 9 A), although there was some degree of Ssap degradation, as indicated by the faster migrating bands present in both silver stained gels and Western blots (data not shown). When purified, Ssa2p was added to the cytosol and vesicle fractions isolated from the ssa2 strain, there was a significant increase in the amount of FBPase import. This effect was again concentration-dependent, with the optimal response being observed after the addition of 3 µg of purified protein. In contrast, the addition of purified Ssa1p (Fig 9 C) or BSA (data not shown) had no effect on import, indicating that the results were specific for Ssa2p. Taken together, these results indicate that Ssa2p plays an import role in the import of FBPase into vesicles.
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Ssa2p Is Necessary, but Not Sufficient for FBPase Import
In the preceding experiments, we have demonstrated that cytosol is a necessary component for FBPase import into Vid vesicles. We have also identified Ssa2p as an essential cytosolic component for proper import. However, we did not know whether Ssa2p is sufficient to drive import into the vesicles, or whether other cytosolic factors are also required. As an initial control, we reconfirmed that ssa2 cytosol (Fig 10, lane 1), vesicles (Fig 10, lane 2), or the combination of cytosol and vesicles (Fig 10, lane 3) did not support FBPase import. Next, we tested whether Ssa2p could support import by the individual fractions. As expected, the combination of Ssa2p and cytosol did not result in FBPase import in the absence of Vid vesicles (Fig 10, lane 4). Likewise, the addition of Ssa2p to vesicles did not support FBPase import in the absence of cytosol (Fig 10, lane 5). However, the combination of Ssa2p, cytosol, and vesicles did induce the import of FBPase (Fig 10, lane 6).
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Molecular chaperones can protect proteins from proteolytic degradation under certain in vitro circumstances. Therefore, the combination of exogenously added Ssa2p and endogenous cytosolic chaperones might protect FBPase from proteinase K degradation instead of stimulating the import of the protein into vesicles. However, as shown in Fig 10 A, lane 4, the combination of Ssa2p and cytosol did not protect FBPase from proteolytic degradation. Likewise, Ssa2p did not protect FBPase from degradation in the absence of cytosol or vesicles (Fig 10 A, lane 7). Therefore, we conclude that any protection exhibited in our in vitro assay is most likely due to import into vesicles, and is not a direct protective effect from proteolysis. Additional support for this idea is the observation that the addition of Triton X-100 results in the complete degradation of FBPase, even when cytosol, vesicles, and Ssa2p are included in the reaction mixture (Fig 10 A, lane 8).
The results from the preceding experiments were further verified using cytosol and vesicles derived from a WT yeast strain (Fig 10 B). Once again, neither cytosol (Fig 10 B, lane 1) nor vesicles (Fig 10 B, lane 2) would support FBPase import when combined with Ssa2p. Thus, it appears that Ssa2p is necessary, but not sufficient for the import of FBPase into Vid vesicles. Accordingly, there must be multiple cytosolic proteins that are required for the import of FBPase into Vid vesicles. To determine whether other cytosolic ATP binding proteins are involved, we repeated our earlier experiments in which ATP binding proteins were depleted from the cytosol. As shown previously, the depletion of ATP binding proteins from the cytosol resulted in the inhibition of FBPase import (Fig 10 B, lane 5). However, the addition of purified Ssa2p to the reaction mixture did not drive import (Fig 10 B, lane 6), in contrast to our previous results where the addition of ATP binding proteins did stimulate import (see Fig 3 B). Thus, it appears that there are additional ATP binding proteins in the cytosol that are required for the import of FBPase into Vid vesicles.
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Discussion |
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Recent evidence suggests that FBPase is targeted to a novel type of vesicle during the degradative process. These Vid vesicles have been purified to near homogeneity and were found to contain FBPase after stimulation with glucose (
A variety of in vitro systems have been developed for the reconstitution of protein sorting and protein transport into organelles. This includes translocation of proteins into the ER (
Cytosol was required for the uptake of FBPase into the vesicles in our in vitro system. One likely explanation is that cytosolic proteins play a required role in FBPase import. Since FBPase is located in the cytosol before glucose shift, this protein may interact directly with other cytosolic proteins before its trafficking to the vesicles. Along these lines, hsc73 binds to protein substrates that are destined to be degraded in lysosomes (ssa2 knockouts exhibit a defect in the degradation of FBPase after a shift from a low glucose to a high glucose circumstance. Furthermore, cytosol isolated from this strain was not functional for in vitro import of FBPase. Interestingly, Ssa2p is required as a soluble cytosolic component for import, but it is not required for the formation of competent Vid vesicles. Vid vesicles purified from
ssa2 cells are competent for import if they are incubated with WT cytosol or with cytosol that contains the Ssa2p protein. In contrast, WT vesicles cannot import FBPase if they are incubated with cytosol that lacks the Ssa2p protein.
Although Ssa2p is a required cytosolic component, it is not the only cytosolic protein necessary for FBPase import into Vid vesicles. For example, the combination of purified recombinant Ssa2p and import competent Vid vesicles did not import FBPase unless cytosol was included in the reaction. Accordingly, we surmise that a number of other cytosolic proteins may be essential for the FBPase import process. The identification of these proteins was beyond the scope of the present study. However, we suspect that a number of ATP binding proteins may be involved. As shown in Fig 3 B, the depletion of ATP binding proteins from the cytosolic fraction resulted in the inhibition of FBPase import. Although Ssa2p was identified as one of the proteins depleted in this process, the readdition of purified recombinant Ssa2p did not restore import competence to this cytosol. Thus, it appears that other ATP binding proteins are also required for FBPase import.
Somewhat surprisingly, Ssa1p did not appear to play a role in FBPase import. As noted previously, SSA1 and SSA2 are 97% homologous and are known to share many overlapping functions. However, we have multiple lines of evidence that suggest that they do not play similar roles in the degradation of FBPase. First, the deletion of the SSA1 gene did not have any apparent effect on the kinetics of FBPase degradation after a glucose shift. This was observed for both the
ssa1 and
ssa1
ssa3 strains. In contrast, both the
ssa2 and
ssa1
ssa2 strains exhibited defective FBPase degradation kinetics. Again, this defect was attributed to the lack of Ssa2p, since the induced expression of Ssa2p in the
ssa1
ssa2 strain corrected the degradation defect, whereas the induced expression of Ssa1p did not.
The role that Ssa2p played in FBPase import was further confirmed with our in vitro assay. Cytosol and vesicles derived from the ssa2 strain would not support FBPase import, whereas cytosol and vesicles derived from the
ssa1,
ssa3, or
ssa4 strains did import FBPase. Furthermore, the addition of purified recombinant Ssa2p to the
ssa2 reaction mixture restored FBPase import, whereas the addition of purified recombinant Ssa1p did not. Therefore, we conclude that Ssa2p is required for FBPase import, both in vivo and in vitro.
The screening of genetic mutations is a powerful tool to identify genes that are involved in various cellular processes. However, the process is not necessarily all-inclusive, as demonstrated by the present study. Members of the Ssa chaperone family were not identified in our initial genetic screen for FBPase degradation mutants, although Ssa2p clearly plays a role in the FBPase degradation process. Therefore, a combination of genetic and biochemical methodologies will no doubt be necessary to identify most of the components involved in the trafficking and degradation of the FBPase protein. Further studies using the purified vesicles as an in vitro assay system should be instrumental in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the FBPase degradation pathway.
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Footnotes |
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1 Abbreviations used in this paper: AP1, aminopeptidase 1; CPY, carboxypeptidase Y; FBPase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase; hsc, heat shock cognate protein; Hsp, heat shock proteins; Vid, vacuole import and degradation; VPS, vacuolar protein sorting; WT, wild-type.
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Acknowledgements |
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We thank Drs. E. Craig, S. Emr, and C. Barlowe for the generous gifts of yeast strains and antibodies.
This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM 59480) and the American Cancer Society (RPG-94-023-05) to H.-L. Chiang.
Submitted: 23 February 2000
Revised: 23 May 2000
Accepted: 2 June 2000
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References |
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