Formation of the preprimosome protects lambda O from RNA transcription-dependent proteolysis by ClpP/ClpX

Using the bacteriophage lambda DNA replication system, composed entirely of purified proteins, we have tested the accessibility of the short-lived lambda O protein to the ClpP/ClpX protease during the various stages of lambda DNA replication. We find that binding of lambda O protein to its orilambda DNA sequence, leading to the so-called "O-some" formation, largely inhibits its degradation. On the contrary, under conditions permissive for transcription, the lambda O protein bound to the orilambda sequence becomes largely accessible to ClpP/ClpX-mediated proteolysis. However, when the lambda O protein is part of the larger orilambda:O.P.DnaB preprimosomal complex, transcription does not significantly increase ClpP/ClpX-dependent lambda O degradation. These results show that transcription can stimulate proteolysis of a protein that is required for the initiation of DNA replication.

Assembly of the yeast vacuolar H+-ATPase occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum and requires a Vma12p/Vma22p assembly complex

Three previously identified genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, VMA12, VMA21, and VMA22, encode proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These three proteins are required for the biogenesis of a functional vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase), but are not part of the final enzyme complex. Subcellular fractionation and chemical cross-linking studies have revealed that Vma12p and Vma22p form a stable membrane associated complex. Cross-linking analysis also revealed a direct physical interaction between the Vma12p/Vma22p assembly complex and Vph1p, the 100-kD integral membrane subunit of the V-ATPase. The interaction of the Vma12p/Vma22p complex with Vph1p was transient (half-life of approximately 5 min), reflecting trafficking of this V-ATPase subunit through the ER en route to the vacuolar membrane. Analysis of these protein-protein interactions in ER-blocked sec12 mutant cells indicated that the Vph1p-Vma12p/Vma22p interactions are quite stable when transport of the V-ATPase out of the ER is blocked. Fractionation of solubilized membrane proteins on a density gradient revealed comigration of Vma22p and Vma12p, indicating that they form a complex even in the absence of cross-linker. Vma12p and Vma22p migrated to fractions separate from Vma21p. Loss of Vph1p caused the Vma12p/Vma22p complex to sediment to less dense fractions, consistent with association of Vma12p/ Vma22p with nascent Vph1p in ER membranes. This is the first evidence for a dedicated assembly complex in the ER required for the assembly of an integral membrane protein complex (V-ATPase) as it is transported through the secretory pathway.

Mechanism of protein remodeling by ClpA chaperone

ClpA, a newly discovered ATP-dependent molecular chaperone, remodels bacteriophage P1 RepA dimers into monomers, thereby activating the latent specific DNA binding activity of RepA. We investigated the mechanism of the chaperone activity of ClpA by dissociating the reaction into several steps and determining the role of nucleotide in each step. In the presence of ATP or a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, the initial step is the self-assembly of ClpA and its association with inactive RepA dimers. ClpA-RepA complexes form rapidly and at 0 degrees C but are relatively unstable. The next step is the conversion of unstable ClpA-RepA complexes into stable complexes in a time- and temperature-dependent reaction. The transition to stable ClpA-RepA complexes requires binding of ATP, but not ATP hydrolysis, because nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs satisfy the nucleotide requirement. The stable complexes contain approximately 1 mol of RepA dimer per mol of ClpA hexamer and are committed to activating RepA. In the last step of the reaction, active RepA is released upon exchange of ATP with the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog and ATP hydrolysis. Importantly, we discovered that one cycle of RepA binding to ClpA followed by ATP-dependent release is sufficient to convert inactive RepA to its active form.