The crystal structure of the conserved GTPase of SRP54 from the archaeon Acidianus ambivalens and its comparison with related structures suggests a model for the SRP-SRP receptor complex

A multifactorial assessment of the SRP pathway constituent FtsY as a vital mycobacterial constituent

The signal recognition particle (SRP) system plays an imperative role in transporting the secretory protein to its intended location. The SRP pathway running in Mycobacterium tuberculosis constitutes FtsY (signal receptor), FfH (SRP), and 4.5S RNA in which signal receptor acts in the GTP-dependent manner. In this study, we are rendering the essential facts of FtsY with respect to mycobacterial growth. The growth study experiment showed that downexpressed FtsY slowed the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc² 155 from the initial lag phase to stationary phase. Previously, we have showed that GTPase activity of FtsY is metal ion dependent and showed the maximum activity with 10 mM magnesium. The effect of Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ on mycobacterial growth showed that Mg²⁺ did not affect the growth, whereas higher concentration of Mn²⁺ decreases the bacterial growth. After searching the inhibitor database, 14 GTPase and ATPase inhibitors, Mac0182344, ML141, ITX3, NAV_2729, Br-GTP, Rhosin_HCl, Mac0182099, CCG_50014, CID_1067700, Mac0174809, Nsc_23766, Berberine, Nexinhib20, and EHT1864, were found to interact with FtsY. Further, ML141 and NAV2729 found to decrease the enzymatic activity of FtsY as well as the mycobacterial growth. Therefore, the conclusive statement of the present study can be stated as that the FtsY plays major role in mycobacterial cell survival and ML141 and NAV2729 can be used to constrain the SRP pathway.

The bacterial SRP receptor, SecA and the ribosome use overlapping binding sites on the SecY translocon

Signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent protein targeting is a universally conserved process that delivers proteins to the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane or to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane in eukaryotes. Crucial during targeting is the transfer of the ribosome-nascent chain complex (RNC) from SRP to the Sec translocon. In eukaryotes, this step is co-ordinated by the SRβ subunit of the SRP receptor (SR), which probably senses a vacant translocon by direct interaction with the translocon. Bacteria lack the SRβ subunit and how they co-ordinate RNC transfer is unknown. By site-directed cross-linking and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analyses, we show that FtsY, the bacterial SRα homologue, binds to the exposed C4/C5 loops of SecY, the central component of the bacterial Sec translocon. The same loops serve also as binding sites for SecA and the ribosome. The FtsY-SecY interaction involves at least the A domain of FtsY, which attributes an important function to this so far ill-defined domain. Binding of FtsY to SecY residues, which are also used by SecA and the ribosome, probably allows FtsY to sense an available translocon and to align the incoming SRP-RNC with the protein conducting channel. Thus, the Escherichia coli FtsY encompasses the functions of both the eukaryotic SRα and SRβ subunits in one single protein.

Archaea signal recognition particle shows the way

Archaea SRP is composed of an SRP RNA molecule and two bound proteins named SRP19 and SRP54. Regulated by the binding and hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphates, the RNA-bound SRP54 protein transiently associates not only with the hydrophobic signal sequence as it emerges from the ribosomal exit tunnel, but also interacts with the membrane-associated SRP receptor (FtsY). Comparative analyses of the archaea genomes and their SRP component sequences, combined with structural and biochemical data, support a prominent role of the SRP RNA in the assembly and function of the archaea SRP. The 5e motif, which in eukaryotes binds a 72 kilodalton protein, is preserved in most archaea SRP RNAs despite the lack of an archaea SRP72 homolog. The primary function of the 5e region may be to serve as a hinge, strategically positioned between the small and large SRP domain, allowing the elongated SRP to bind simultaneously to distant ribosomal sites. SRP19, required in eukaryotes for initiating SRP assembly, appears to play a subordinate role in the archaea SRP or may be defunct. The N-terminal A region and a novel C-terminal R region of the archaea SRP receptor (FtsY) are strikingly diverse or absent even among the members of a taxonomic subgroup.

GTPases and the origin of the ribosome

Background

This paper is an attempt to trace the evolution of the ribosome through the evolution of the universal P-loop GTPases that are involved with the ribosome in translation and with the attachment of the ribosome to the membrane. The GTPases involved in translation in Bacteria/Archaea are the elongation factors EFTu/EF1, the initiation factors IF2/aeIF5b + aeIF2, and the elongation factors EFG/EF2. All of these GTPases also contain the OB fold also found in the non GTPase IF1 involved in initiation. The GTPase involved in the signal recognition particle in most Bacteria and Archaea is SRP54.

Results

1) The Elongation Factors of the Archaea based on structural considerations of the domains have the following evolutionary path: EF1→ aeIF2 → EF2. The evolution of the aeIF5b was a later event; 2) the Elongation Factors of the Bacteria based on the topological considerations of the GTPase domain have a similar evolutionary path: EFTu→ IF→2→EFG. These evolutionary sequences reflect the evolution of the LSU followed by the SSU to form the ribosome; 3) the OB-fold IF1 is a mimic of an ancient tRNA minihelix.

Conclusion

The evolution of translational GTPases of both the Archaea and Bacteria point to the evolution of the ribosome. The elongation factors, EFTu/EF1, began as a Ras-like GTPase bringing the activated minihelix tRNA to the Large Subunit Unit. The initiation factors and elongation factor would then have evolved from the EFTu/EF1 as the small subunit was added to the evolving ribosome. The SRP has an SRP54 GTPase and a specific RNA fold in its RNA component similar to the PTC. We consider the SRP to be a remnant of an ancient form of an LSU bound to a membrane.

Reviewers

This article was reviewed by George Fox, Leonid Mirny and Chris Sander.

Crossing the membrane in Archaea, the third domain of life

Many of the recent advancements in the field of protein translocation, particularly from the structural perspective, have relied on Archaea. For instance, the solved structures of the translocon from the methanoarchaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii of the ribosomal large subunit from the haloarchaeon Haloarcula marismortui and of components of the SRP pathway from several archaeal species have provided novel insight into various aspects of the translocation event. Given the major contribution that Archaea have made to our understanding of how proteins enter and traverse membranes, it is surprising that relatively little is known of protein translocation in Archaea in comparison to the well-defined translocation pathways of Eukarya and Bacteria. What is known, however, points to archaeal translocation as comprising a mosaic of eukaryal and bacterial traits together with aspects of the process seemingly unique to this, the third domain of life. Here, current understanding of archaeal protein translocation is considered. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Protein translocation across or insertion into membranes.

Interaction of signal-recognition particle 54 GTPase domain and signal-recognition particle RNA in the free signal-recognition particle

The signal-recognition particle (SRP) is a ubiquitous protein-RNA complex that targets proteins to cellular membranes for insertion or secretion. A key player in SRP-mediated protein targeting is the evolutionarily conserved core consisting of the SRP RNA and the multidomain protein SRP54. Communication between the SRP54 domains is critical for SRP function, where signal sequence binding at the M domain directs receptor binding at the GTPase domain (NG domain). These SRP activities are linked to domain rearrangements, for which the role of SRP RNA is not clear. In free SRP, a direct interaction of the GTPase domain with SRP RNA has been proposed but has never been structurally verified. In this study, we present the crystal structure at 2.5-A resolution of the SRP54-SRP19-SRP RNA complex of Methanococcus jannaschii SRP. The structure reveals an RNA-bound conformation of the SRP54 GTPase domain, in which the domain is spatially well separated from the signal peptide binding site. The association of both the N and G domains with SRP RNA in free SRP provides further structural evidence for the pivotal role of SRP RNA in the regulation of the SRP54 activity.

Membrane targeting of ribosomes and their release require distinct and separable functions of FtsY

The mechanism underlying the interaction of the Escherichia coli signal recognition particle (SRP) receptor FtsY with the cytoplasmic membrane is not fully understood. We investigated this issue by utilizing active (NG+1) and inactive (NG) mutants of FtsY. In solution, the mutants comparably bind and hydrolyze nucleotides and associate with SRP. In contrast, a major difference was observed in the cellular distribution of NG and NG+1. Unlike NG+1, which distributes almost as the wild-type receptor, the inactive NG mutant accumulates on the membrane, together with ribosomes and SRP. The results suggest that NG function is compromised only at a later stage of the targeting pathway and that despite their identical behavior in solution, the membrane-bound NG-SRP complex is less active than NG+1-SRP. This notion is strongly supported by the observation that lipids stimulate the GTPase activity of NG+1-SRP, whereas no stimulation is observed with NG-SRP. In conclusion, we propose that the SRP receptor has two distinct and separable roles in (i) mediating membrane targeting and docking of ribosomes and (ii) promoting their productive release from the docking site.

Escherichia coli signal recognition particle receptor FtsY contains an essential and autonomous membrane-binding amphipathic helix

Escherichia coli membrane protein biogenesis is mediated by a signal recognition particle and its membrane-associated receptor (FtsY). Although crucial for its function, it is still not clear how FtsY interacts with the membrane. Analysis of the structure/function differences between severely truncated active (NG+1) and inactive (NG) mutants of FtsY enabled us to identify an essential membrane-interacting determinant. Comparison of the three-dimensional structures of the mutants, combined with site-directed mutagenesis, modeling, and liposome-binding assays, revealed that FtsY contains a conserved autonomous lipid-binding amphipathic alpha-helix at the N-terminal end of the N domain. Deletion experiments showed that this helix is essential for FtsY function in vivo, thus offering, for the first time, clear evidence for the functionally important, physiologically relevant interaction of FtsY with lipids.

The crystal structure of the third signal-recognition particle GTPase FlhF reveals a homodimer with bound GTP

Flagella are well characterized as the organelles of locomotion and allow bacteria to react to environmental changes. The assembly of flagella is a multistep process and relies on a complex type III export machinery located in the cytoplasmic membrane. The FlhF protein is essential for the placement and assembly of polar flagella and has been classified as a signal-recognition particle (SRP)-type GTPase. SRP GTPases appeared early in evolution and form a unique subfamily within the guanine nucleotide binding proteins with only three members: the signal sequence-binding protein SRP54, the SRP receptor FtsY, and FlhF. We report the crystal structures of FlhF from Bacillus subtilis in complex with GTP and GMPPNP. FlhF shares SRP GTPase-specific features such as the presence of an N-terminal alpha-helical domain and the I-box insertion. It forms a symmetric homodimer sequestering a composite active site that contains two head-to-tail arranged nucleotides similar to the heterodimeric SRP-targeting complex. However, significant differences to the GTPases of SRP and the SRP receptor include the formation of a stable homodimer with GTP as well as severe modifications and even the absence of motifs involved in regulation of the other two SRP GTPases. Our results provide insights into SRP GTPases and their roles in two fundamentally different protein-targeting routes that both rely on efficient protein delivery to a secretion channel.

X-ray structure of the T. aquaticus FtsY:GDP complex suggests functional roles for the C-terminal helix of the SRP GTPases

FtsY and Ffh are structurally similar prokaryotic Signal Recognition Particle GTPases that play an essential role in the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP)-mediated cotranslational targeting of proteins to the membrane. The two GTPases assemble in a GTP-dependent manner to form a heterodimeric SRP targeting complex. We report here the 2.1 A X-ray structure of FtsY from T. aquaticus bound to GDP. The structure of the monomeric protein reveals, unexpectedly, canonical binding interactions for GDP. A comparison of the structures of the monomeric and complexed FtsY NG GTPase domain suggests that it undergoes a conformational change similar to that of Ffh NG during the assembly of the symmetric heterodimeric complex. However, in contrast to Ffh, in which the C-terminal helix shifts independently of the other subdomains, the C-terminal helix and N domain of T. aquaticus FtsY together behave as a rigid body during assembly, suggesting distinct mechanisms by which the interactions of the NG domain "module" are regulated in the context of the two SRP GTPases.

Analysis of protein hydration in ultrahigh-resolution structures of the SRP GTPase Ffh

Two new structures of the SRP GTPase Ffh have been determined at 1.1 A resolution and provide the basis for comparative examination of the extensive water structure of the apo conformation of these GTPases. A set of well defined water-binding positions have been identified in the active site of the two-domain ;NG' GTPase, as well as at two functionally important interfaces. The water hydrogen-bonding network accommodates alternate conformations of the protein side chains by undergoing local rearrangements and, in one case, illustrates binding of a solute molecule within the active site by displacement of water molecules without further disruption of the water-interaction network. A subset of the water positions are well defined in several lower resolution structures, including those of different nucleotide-binding states; these appear to function in maintaining the protein structure. Consistent arrangements of surface water between three different ultrahigh-resolution structures provide a framework for beginning to understand how local water structure contributes to protein-ligand and protein-protein binding in the SRP GTPases.

Protein secretion in the Archaea: multiple paths towards a unique cell surface

Archaea are similar to other prokaryotes in most aspects of cell structure but are unique with respect to the lipid composition of the cytoplasmic membrane and the structure of the cell surface. Membranes of archaea are composed of glycerol-ether lipids instead of glycerol-ester lipids and are based on isoprenoid side chains, whereas the cell walls are formed by surface-layer proteins. The unique cell surface of archaea requires distinct solutions to the problem of how proteins cross this barrier to be either secreted into the medium or assembled as appendages at the cell surface.

Conformational variability of the GTPase domain of the signal recognition particle receptor FtsY

The prokaryotic signal recognition particle Ffh and its receptor FtsY allow targeting of proteins into or across the plasma membrane. The targeting process is GTP dependent and the two proteins constitute a distinct GTPase family. The receptor FtsY is composed of A and NG domains where the NG's GTPase domain plays a critical role in the targeting process. In this study, we describe two X-ray structures determined independently of each other of the NG domain of FtsY from Mycoplasma mycoides (MmFtsY). The two structures are markedly different in three of the nucleotide-binding segments, GI (P-loop), GII, and GIII, making only one of the structures compatible with nucleotide binding. Interestingly, the two distinct conformations of the nucleotide-binding segments of MmFtsY are similar to the apo- and ADP-loaded forms of certain ATPases. The structure of the extended interface between the A and NG domains of MmFtsY provides new insights into the role of the A domain for phospholipid interaction.

Conformations of the Signal Recognition Particle Protein Ffh from Escherichia coli as Determined by FRET

The signal recognition particle (SRP) initiates the co-translational targeting of proteins to the plasma membrane in bacteria by binding to the N-terminal signal sequence emerging from the translating ribosome. SRP in Escherichia coli is composed of one protein, Ffh, and 4.5S RNA. In the present work, we probe the structure of Ffh alone and in the complex with 4.5S RNA by measuring distances between different positions within Ffh and between Ffh and 4.5S RNA by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). According to the FRET distances, NG and M domains in free Ffh are in close contact, as in the A/A arrangement in the crystal structure of Ffh from Thermus aquaticus, in agreement with the formation of a crosslink between cysteine residues at two critical positions in the G and M domains. Upon Ffh binding to 4.5S RNA or a 61 nucleotide fragment comprising internal loops A-C, the G and M domains move apart to assume a more open conformation, as indicated by changes of FRET distances. The movement is smaller when Ffh binds to a 49 nucleotide fragment of 4.5S RNA comprising only internal loops A and B, i.e. lacking the binding site of the NG domain. The FRET results suggest that in the SRP complex 4.5S RNA is present in a bent, rather than extended, conformation. The domain rearrangement of Ffh that takes place upon formation of the SRP is probably important for subsequent steps of membrane targeting, including interactions with the translating ribosome and the SRP receptor.

Getting on target: the archaeal signal recognition particle

Protein translocation begins with the efficient targeting of secreted and membrane proteins to complexes embedded within the membrane. In Eukarya and Bacteria, this is achieved through the interaction of the signal recognition particle (SRP) with the nascent polypeptide chain. In Archaea, homologs of eukaryal and bacterial SRP-mediated translocation pathway components have been identified. Biochemical analysis has revealed that although the archaeal system incorporates various facets of the eukaryal and bacterial targeting systems, numerous aspects of the archaeal system are unique to this domain of life. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that elucidation of the archaeal SRP pathway will provide answers to basic questions about protein targeting that cannot be obtained from examination of eukaryal or bacterial models. In this review, recent data regarding the molecular composition, functional behavior and evolutionary significance of the archaeal signal recognition particle pathway are discussed.

A structural step into the SRP cycle

Co-translational targeting of secretory and membrane proteins to the translocation machinery is mediated by the signal recognition particle (SRP) and its membrane-bound receptor (SR) in all three domains of life. Although the overall composition of the SRP system differs, the central ribonucleoprotein core and the general mechanism of GTP-dependent targeting are highly conserved. Recently, structural studies have contributed significantly to our understanding of the molecular organization of SRP. SRP appears as a structurally flexible particle modulated and regulated by its interactions with the ribosome-nascent chain complex, the translocon and the SR. The SRP core (SRP54 with its cognate RNA binding site) plays a central role in these interactions and communicates the different binding states by long-range interdomain communication. Based on recent structures of SRP54, a model for signal peptide binding stimulating the GTP affinity during the first step of the SRP cycle is presented. The model is placed in the context of the recent structures of mammalian SRP bound to a ribosome-nascent chain complex and of a subcomplex of SRP-SR.

SRP meets the ribosome

Cotranslational targeting directly couples synthesis of proteins to their translocation across or insertion into membranes. The signal recognition particle (SRP) and its membrane-bound receptor facilitate the targeting of the translation machinery, the ribosome, via recognition of a signal sequence in the nascent peptide chain. By combining structures of free and ribosome-bound SRP we derive a structural model describing the dynamic nature of SRP when it meets the ribosome.

The archaeal signal recognition particle: steps toward membrane binding

Signal recognition particles and their receptors target ribosome nascent chain complexes of preproteins toward the protein translocation apparatus of the cell. The discovery of essential SRP components in the third urkingdom of the phylogenetic tree, the archaea (Woese, C. R., and Fox, G. E. (1977). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 5088-5090) raises questions concerning the structure and composition of the archaeal signal recognition particle as well as the functions that route nascent prepoly peptide chains to the membrane. Investigations of the archaeal SRP pathway could therefore identify novel aspects of this process not previously reported or unique to archaea when compared with the respective eukaryal and bacterial systems.

Unraveling the interface of signal recognition particle and its receptor by using chemical cross-linking and tandem mass spectrometry

Among the methods used to unravel protein interaction surfaces, chemical cross-linking followed by identification of the cross-linked peptides by mass spectrometry has proven especially useful in dynamic and complex systems. During the signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent targeting of proteins to the bacterial plasma membrane, the specific interaction between Ffh (the protein component of SRP) and FtsY (the SRP receptor) is known to be essential for the efficiency and fidelity of this process. In this work, we studied the Escherichia coli and Thermus aquaticus Ffh.FtsY complexes by using chemical cross-linking and tandem mass spectrometry to identify nine intermolecular cross-linked peptides. This information was used in conjunction with a previously undescribed model-building approach that combines geometric restraint optimization with macromolecular docking. The resulting model of the Ffh.FtsY complex is in good agreement with the crystal structure solved shortly thereafter. Intriguingly, four of the cross-linked pairs involve the M domain of Ffh, which is absent from the crystal structure, providing previously undocumented experimental evidence that the M domain is positioned in close proximity to the Ffh.FtsY interface in the complex.

UreG, a chaperone in the urease assembly process, is an intrinsically unstructured GTPase that specifically binds Zn2+

Bacillus pasteurii UreG, a chaperone involved in the urease active site assembly, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and purified to homogeneity. The identity of the recombinant protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, protein sequencing, and mass spectrometry. A combination of size exclusion chromatography and multiangle and dynamic laser light scattering established that BpUreG is present in solution as a dimer. Analysis of circular dichroism spectra indicated that the protein contains large portions of helices (15%) and strands (29%), whereas NMR spectroscopy indicated the presence of conformational fluxionality of the protein backbone in solution. BpUreG catalyzes the hydrolysis of GTP with a kcat=0.04 min(-1), confirming a role for this class of proteins in coupling energy requirements and nickel incorporation into the urease active site. BpUreG binds two Zn2+ ions per dimer, with a KD=42 +/- 3 microm, and has a 10-fold lower affinity for Ni2+. A structural model for BpUreG was calculated by using threading algorithms. The protein, in the fully folded state, features the typical structural architecture of GTPases, with an open beta-barrel surrounded by alpha-helices and a P-loop at the N terminus. The protein dynamic behavior observed in solution is critically discussed relative to the structural model, using algorithms for disorder predictions. The results suggest that UreG proteins belong to the class of intrinsically unstructured proteins that need the interaction with cofactors or other protein partners to perform their function. It is also proposed that metal ions such as Zn2+ could have important structural roles in the urease activation process.

Structural insights into the signal recognition particle

The signal recognition particle (SRP) directs integral membrane and secretory proteins to the cellular protein translocation machinery during translation. The SRP is an evolutionarily conserved RNA-protein complex whose activities are regulated by GTP hydrolysis. Recent structural investigations of SRP functional domains and interactions provide new insights into the mechanisms of SRP activity in all cells, leading toward a comprehensive understanding of protein trafficking by this elegant pathway.

The archaeal Sec-dependent protein translocation pathway

Over the past three decades, transport of proteins across cellular membranes has been studied extensively in various model systems. One of the major transport routes, the so-called Sec pathway, is conserved in all domains of life. Very little is known about this pathway in the third domain of life, archaea. The core components of the archaeal, bacterial and eucaryal Sec machinery are similar, although the archaeal components appear more closely related to their eucaryal counterparts. Interestingly, the accessory factors of the translocation machinery are similar to bacterial components, which indicates a unique hybrid nature of the archaeal translocase complex. The mechanism of protein translocation in archaea is completely unknown. Based on genomic sequencing data, the most likely system for archaeal protein translocation is similar to the eucaryal co-translational translocation pathway for protein import into the endoplasmic reticulum, in which a protein is pushed across the translocation channel by the ribosome. However, other models can also be envisaged, such as a bacterial-like system in which a protein is translocated post-translationally with the aid of a motor protein analogous to the bacterial ATPase SecA. This review discusses the different models. Furthermore, an overview is given of some of the other components that may be involved in the protein translocation process, such as those required for protein targeting, folding and post-translational modification.

Novel protein and Mg2+ configurations in the Mg2+GDP complex of the SRP GTPase ffh

Ffh is the signal sequence recognition and targeting subunit of the prokaryotic signal recognition particle (SRP). Previous structural studies of the NG GTPase domain of Ffh demonstrated magnesium-dependent and magnesium-independent binding conformations for GDP and GMPPNP that are believed to reflect novel mechanisms for exchange and activation in this member of the GTPase superfamily. The current study of the NG GTPase bound to Mg(2+)GDP reveals two new binding conformations-in the first the magnesium interactions are similar to those seen previously, however, the protein undergoes a conformational change that brings a conserved aspartate into its second coordination sphere. In the second, the protein conformation is similar to that seen previously, but the magnesium coordination sphere is disrupted so that only five oxygen ligands are present. The loss of the coordinating water molecule, at the position that would be occupied by the oxygen of the gamma-phosphate of GTP, is consistent with that position being privileged for exchange during phosphate release. The available structures of the GDP-bound protein provide a series of structural snapshots that illuminate steps along the pathway of GDP release following GTP hydrolysis.

Heterodimeric GTPase core of the SRP targeting complex

Two structurally homologous guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) domains interact directly during signal recognition particle (SRP)-mediated cotranslational targeting of proteins to the membrane. The 2.05 angstrom structure of a complex of the NG GTPase domains of Ffh and FtsY reveals a remarkably symmetric heterodimer sequestering a composite active site that contains two bound nucleotides. The structure explains the coordinate activation of the two GTPases. Conformational changes coupled to formation of their extensive interface may function allosterically to signal formation of the targeting complex to the signal-sequence binding site and the translocon. We propose that the complex represents a molecular "latch" and that its disengagement is regulated by completion of assembly of the GTPase active site.

Substrate twinning activates the signal recognition particle and its receptor

Signal sequences target proteins for secretion from cells or for integration into cell membranes. As nascent proteins emerge from the ribosome, signal sequences are recognized by the signal recognition particle (SRP), which subsequently associates with its receptor (SR). In this complex, the SRP and SR stimulate each other's GTPase activity, and GTP hydrolysis ensures unidirectional targeting of cargo through a translocation pore in the membrane. To define the mechanism of reciprocal activation, we determined the 1.9 A structure of the complex formed between these two GTPases. The two partners form a quasi-two-fold symmetrical heterodimer. Biochemical analysis supports the importance of the extensive interaction surface. Complex formation aligns the two GTP molecules in a symmetrical, composite active site, and the 3'OH groups are essential for association, reciprocal activation and catalysis. This unique circle of twinned interactions is severed twice on hydrolysis, leading to complex dissociation after cargo delivery.

Crystal structure of the complete core of archaeal signal recognition particle and implications for interdomain communication

Targeting of secretory and membrane proteins by the signal recognition particle (SRP) is evolutionarily conserved, and the multidomain protein SRP54 acts as the key player in SRP-mediated protein transport. Binding of a signal peptide to SRP54 at the ribosome is coordinated with GTP binding and subsequent complex formation with the SRP receptor. Because these functions are localized to distinct domains of SRP54, communication between them is essential. We report the crystal structures of SRP54 from the Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus with and without its cognate SRP RNA binding site (helix 8) at 4-A resolution. The two structures show the flexibility of the SRP core and the position of SRP54 relative to the RNA. A long linker helix connects the GTPase (G domain) with the signal peptide binding (M) domain, and a hydrophobic contact between the N and M domains relates the signal peptide binding site to the G domain. Hinge regions are identified in the linker between the G and M domains (292-LGMGD) and in the N-terminal part of the M domain, which allow for structural rearrangements within SRP54 upon signal peptide binding at the ribosome.

Dual recognition of the ribosome and the signal recognition particle by the SRP receptor during protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum

We have analyzed the interactions between the signal recognition particle (SRP), the SRP receptor (SR), and the ribosome using GTPase assays, biosensor experiments, and ribosome binding assays. Possible mechanisms that could contribute to an enhanced affinity between the SR and the SRP-ribosome nascent chain complex to promote protein translocation under physiological ionic strength conditions have been explored. Ribosomes or 60S large ribosomal subunits activate the GTPase cycle of SRP54 and SRalpha by providing a platform for assembly of the SRP-SR complex. Biosensor experiments revealed high-affinity, saturable binding of ribosomes or large ribosomal subunits to the SR. Remarkably, the SR has a 100-fold higher affinity for the ribosome than for SRP. Proteoliposomes that contain the SR bind nontranslating ribosomes with an affinity comparable to that shown by the Sec61 complex. An NH2-terminal 319-residue segment of SRalpha is necessary and sufficient for binding of SR to the ribosome. We propose that the ribosome-SR interaction accelerates targeting of the ribosome nascent chain complex to the RER, while the SRP-SR interaction is crucial for maintaining the fidelity of the targeting reaction.

Protein-protein, protein-RNA and protein-lipid interactions of signal-recognition particle components in the hyperthermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens

The signal-recognition particle (SRP) of one of the most acidophilic and hyperthermophilic archaeal cells, Acidianus ambivalens, and its putative receptor component, FtsY (prokaryotic SRP receptor), were investigated in detail. A. ambivalens Ffh (fifty-four-homologous protein) was shown to be a soluble protein with strong affinity to membranes. In its membrane-residing form, Ffh was extracted from plasma membranes with chaotropic agents like urea, but not with agents diminishing electrostatic interactions. Using unilamellar tetraether phospholipid vesicles, both Ffh and FtsY associate independently from each other in the absence of other factors, suggesting an equilibrium of soluble and membrane-bound protein forms under in vivo conditions. The Ffh protein precipitated from cytosolic cell supernatants with anti-Ffh antibodies, together with an 7 S-alike SRP-RNA, suggesting a stable core ribonucleoprotein composed of both components under native conditions. The SRP RNA of A. ambivalens depicted a size of about 309 nucleotides like the SRP RNA of the related organism Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. A stable heterodimeric complex composed of Ffh and FtsY was absent in cytosolic supernatants, indicating a transiently formed complex during archaeal SRP targeting. The FtsY protein precipitated in cytosolic supernatants with anti-FtsY antisera as a homomeric protein lacking accessory protein components. However, under in vitro conditions, recombinantly generated Ffh and FtsY associate in a nucleotide-independent manner, supporting a structural receptor model with two interacting apoproteins.

Structure, function and evolution of the signal recognition particle

The signal recognition particle (SRP) is a ribonucleoprotein particle essential for the targeting of signal peptide-bearing proteins to the prokaryotic plasma membrane or the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum membrane for secretion or membrane insertion. SRP binds to the signal peptide emerging from the exit site of the ribosome and forms a ribosome nascent chain (RNC)-SRP complex. The RNC-SRP complex then docks in a GTP-dependent manner with a membrane-anchored SRP receptor and the protein is translocated across or integrated into the membrane through a channel called the translocon. Recently considerable progress has been made in understanding the architecture and function of SRP.

Signal recognition particle-dependent protein targeting, universal to all kingdoms of life

The signal recognition particle (SRP) and its membrane-bound receptor represent a ubiquitous protein-targeting device utilized by organisms as different as bacteria and humans, archaea and plants. The unifying concept of SRP-dependent protein targeting is that SRP binds to signal sequences of newly synthesized proteins as they emerge from the ribosome. In eukaryotes this interaction arrests or retards translation elongation until SRP targets the ribosome-nascent chain complexes via the SRP receptor to the translocation channel. Such channels are present in the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells, the thylakoids of chloroplasts, or the plasma membrane of prokaryotes. The minimal functional unit of SRP consists of a signal sequence-recognizing protein and a small RNA. The as yet most complex version is the mammalian SRP whose RNA, together with six proteinaceous subunits, undergo an intricate assembly process. The preferential substrates of SRP possess especially hydrophobic signal sequences. Interactions between SRP and its receptor, the ribosome, the signal sequence, and the target membrane are regulated by GTP hydrolysis. SRP-dependent protein targeting in bacteria and chloroplasts slightly deviate from the canonical mechanism found in eukaryotes. Pro- and eukaryotic cells harbour regulatory mechanisms to prevent a malfunction of the SRP pathway.

Mapping the signal sequence-binding site on SRP reveals a significant role for the NG domain

We present evidence that the signal recognition particle (SRP) recognizes signal sequences via the NG domain on the SRP54 protein subunit. Using a recently developed cross-linking method (Fancy, D. A., and Kodadek, T. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 96, 6020-6024; Correction (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 96, 1317), we find that signal peptides cross-link to the Escherichia coli SRP protein Ffh (the homologue of the mammalian SRP54 subunit) via the NG domain. Within the NG domain, the cross-linking site maps to the ras-like C-terminal subdomain termed the G domain. This result stands in contrast to previous studies, which concluded based on nascent chain cross-linking that the signal sequence bound to the adjacent M domain. As independent evidence of a direct binding interaction between the NG domain and the signal sequence, we find that the NG domain of Ffh binds signal peptides as an isolated entity. Our results suggest that the NG domain forms a substantial part of the binding site for the signal sequence.

Structural basis for mobility in the 1.1 A crystal structure of the NG domain of Thermus aquaticus Ffh

The NG domain of the prokaryotic signal recognition protein Ffh is a two-domain GTPase that comprises part of the prokaryotic signal recognition particle (SRP) that functions in co-translational targeting of proteins to the membrane. The interface between the N and G domains includes two highly conserved sequence motifs and is adjacent in sequence and structure to one of the conserved GTPase signature motifs. Previous structural studies have shown that the relative orientation of the two domains is dynamic. The N domain of Ffh has been proposed to function in regulating the nucleotide-binding interactions of the G domain. However, biochemical studies suggest a more complex role for the domain in integrating communication between signal sequence recognition and interaction with receptor. Here, we report the structure of the apo NG GTPase of Ffh from Thermus aquaticus refined at 1.10 A resolution. Although the G domain is very well ordered in this structure, the N domain is less well ordered, reflecting the dynamic relationship between the two domains previously inferred. We demonstrate that the anisotropic displacement parameters directly visualize the underlying mobility between the two domains, and present a detailed structural analysis of the packing of the residues, including the critical alpha4 helix, that comprise the interface. Our data allows us to propose a structural explanation for the functional significance of sequence elements conserved at the N/G interface.

Conformational change of the N-domain on formation of the complex between the GTPase domains of Thermus aquaticus Ffh and FtsY

The structural basis for the GTP-dependent co-translational targeting complex between the signal recognition particle (SRP) and its receptor is unknown. The complex has been shown to have unusual kinetics of formation, and association in vivo is likely to be dependent on catalysis by the SRP RNA. We have determined conditions for RNA-independent association of the 'NG' GTPase domains of the prokaryotic homologs of the SRP components, Ffh and FtsY, from Thermus aquaticus. Consistent with previous studies of the Escherichia coli proteins, the kinetics of association and dissociation are slow. The T. aquaticus FtsY is sensitive to an endogenous proteolytic activity that cleaves at two sites--the first in a lengthy linker peptide that spans the interface between the N and G domains, and the second near the N-terminus of the N domain of FtsY. Remarkably, this second cleavage occurs only on formation of the Ffh/FtsY complex. The change in protease sensitivity of this region, which is relatively unstructured in the FtsY but not in the Ffh NG domain, implies that it undergoes conformational change on formation of the complex between the two proteins. The N domain, therefore, participates in the interactions that mediate the GTP-dependent formation of the targeting complex.

The signal recognition particle

The signal recognition particle (SRP) and its membrane-associated receptor (SR) catalyze targeting of nascent secretory and membrane proteins to the protein translocation apparatus of the cell. Components of the SRP pathway and salient features of the molecular mechanism of SRP-dependent protein targeting are conserved in all three kingdoms of life. Recent advances in the structure determination of a number of key components in the eukaryotic and prokaryotic SRP pathway provide new insight into the molecular basis of SRP function, and they set the stage for future work toward an integrated picture that takes into account the dynamic and contextual properties of this remarkable cellular machine.

Classification and evolution of P-loop GTPases and related ATPases

Sequences and available structures were compared for all the widely distributed representatives of the P-loop GTPases and GTPase-related proteins with the aim of constructing an evolutionary classification for this superclass of proteins and reconstructing the principal events in their evolution. The GTPase superclass can be divided into two large classes, each of which has a unique set of sequence and structural signatures (synapomorphies). The first class, designated TRAFAC (after translation factors) includes enzymes involved in translation (initiation, elongation, and release factors), signal transduction (in particular, the extended Ras-like family), cell motility, and intracellular transport. The second class, designated SIMIBI (after signal recognition particle, MinD, and BioD), consists of signal recognition particle (SRP) GTPases, the assemblage of MinD-like ATPases, which are involved in protein localization, chromosome partitioning, and membrane transport, and a group of metabolic enzymes with kinase or related phosphate transferase activity. These two classes together contain over 20 distinct families that are further subdivided into 57 subfamilies (ancient lineages) on the basis of conserved sequence motifs, shared structural features, and domain architectures. Ten subfamilies show a universal phyletic distribution compatible with presence in the last universal common ancestor of the extant life forms (LUCA). These include four translation factors, two OBG-like GTPases, the YawG/YlqF-like GTPases (these two subfamilies also consist of predicted translation factors), the two signal-recognition-associated GTPases, and the MRP subfamily of MinD-like ATPases. The distribution of nucleotide specificity among the proteins of the GTPase superclass indicates that the common ancestor of the entire superclass was a GTPase and that a secondary switch to ATPase activity has occurred on several independent occasions during evolution. The functions of most GTPases that are traceable to LUCA are associated with translation. However, in contrast to other superclasses of P-loop NTPases (RecA-F1/F0, AAA+, helicases, ABC), GTPases do not participate in NTP-dependent nucleic acid unwinding and reorganizing activities. Hence, we hypothesize that the ancestral GTPase was an enzyme with a generic regulatory role in translation, with subsequent diversification resulting in acquisition of diverse functions in transport, protein trafficking, and signaling. In addition to the classification of previously known families of GTPases and related ATPases, we introduce several previously undetected families and describe new functional predictions.

The conformation of bound GMPPNP suggests a mechanism for gating the active site of the SRP GTPase

BACKGROUND

The signal recognition particle (SRP) is a phylogenetically conserved ribonucleoprotein that mediates cotranslational targeting of secreted and membrane proteins to the membrane. Targeting is regulated by GTP binding and hydrolysis events that require direct interaction between structurally homologous "NG" GTPase domains of the SRP signal recognition subunit and its membrane-associated receptor, SR alpha. Structures of both the apo and GDP bound NG domains of the prokaryotic SRP54 homolog, Ffh, and the prokaryotic receptor homolog, FtsY, have been determined. The structural basis for the GTP-dependent interaction between the two proteins, however, remains unknown.

RESULTS

We report here two structures of the NG GTPase of Ffh from Thermus aquaticus bound to the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog GMPPNP. Both structures reveal an unexpected binding mode in which the beta-phosphate is kinked away from the binding site and magnesium is not bound. Binding of the GTP analog in the canonical conformation found in other GTPase structures is precluded by constriction of the phosphate binding P loop. The structural difference between the Ffh complex and other GTPases suggests a specific conformational change that must accompany movement of the nucleotide from an "inactive" to an "active" binding mode.

CONCLUSIONS

Conserved side chains of the GTPase sequence motifs unique to the SRP subfamily may function to gate formation of the active GTP bound conformation. Exposed hydrophobic residues provide an interaction surface that may allow regulation of the GTP binding conformation, and thus activation of the GTPase, during the association of SRP with its receptor.

Functional Characterization of Recombinant Chloroplast Signal Recognition Particle

The signal recognition particle (SRP) is a ubiquitous system for the targeting of membrane and secreted proteins. The chloroplast SRP (cpSRP) is unique among SRPs in that it possesses no RNA and is functional in post-translational as well as co-translational targeting. We have expressed and purified the two components of the Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) involved in post-translational transport: cpSRP54 and the chloroplast-specific protein, cpSRP43. Recombinant cpSRP supports the efficient in vitro insertion of pea preLhcb1 into isolated thylakoid membranes. Recombinant cpSRP is a stable heterodimer with a molecular mass of approximately 100 kDa as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation, gel filtration analysis, and dynamic light scattering. The interactions of the components of the recombinant heterodimer and pea preLhcb1 were probed using an immobilized peptide library (pepscan) approach. These data confirm two previously reported interactions with the L18 region and the third transmembrane helix of Lhcb1 and suggest that the interface of the cpSRP43 and cpSRP54 proteins is involved in substrate binding. Additionally, cpSRP components are shown to recognize peptides from the cleavable, N-terminal chloroplast transit peptide of preLhcb1. The interaction of cpSRP43 with cpSRP54 was probed in a similar experiment with a peptide library representing cpSPR54. The C terminus of cpSRP54 is essential for the formation of the stable cpSRP complex and cpSPR43 interacts with distinct regions of the M domain of cpSRP54.

The signal recognition particle of Archaea

It is becoming increasingly clear that similarities exist in the manner in which extracytoplasmic proteins are targeted to complexes responsible for translocating these proteins across membranes in each of the three domains of life. In Eukarya and Bacteria, the signal recognition particle (SRP) directs nascent polypeptides to membrane-embedded translocation sites. In Archaea, the SRP protein targeting pathway apparently represents an intermediate between the bacterial and eukaryal systems. Understanding the archaeal SRP pathway could therefore reveal universal aspects of targeting not detected in current comparisons of the eukaryal and bacterial systems while possibly identifying aspects of the process either not previously reported or unique to Archaea.

New prospects in studying the bacterial signal recognition particle pathway

In vivo and in vitro studies have suggested that the bacterial version of the mammalian signal recognition particle (SRP) system plays an essential and selective role in protein biogenesis. The bacterial SRP system consists of at least two proteins and an RNA molecule (termed Ffh, FtsY and 4.5S RNA, respectively, in Escherichia coli). Recent evidence suggests that other putative bacterial-specific SRP components may also exist. In vitro experiments confirmed the expected basic features of the bacterial SRP system by demonstrating interactions among the SRP components themselves, between them and ribosomes, ribosome-linked hydrophobic nascent polypeptides or inner membranes. The availability of a conserved (and essential) bacterial SRP version has facilitated the implementation of powerful genetic and biochemical approaches for studying the cascade of events during the SRP-mediated targeting process in vivo and in vitro as well as the three-dimensional structures and the properties of each SRP component and complex.

Role of SRP19 in assembly of the Archaeoglobus fulgidus signal recognition particle

Previous studies have shown that SRP19 promotes association of the highly conserved signal peptide-binding protein, SRP54, with the signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA in both archaeal and eukaryotic model systems. In vitro characterization of this process is now reported using recombinantly expressed components of SRP from the hyperthermophilic, sulfate-reducing archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidis. A combination of native gel mobility shift, filter binding, and Ni-NTA agarose bead binding assays were used to determine the binding constants for binary and ternary complexes of SRP proteins and SRP RNA. Archaeal SRP54, unlike eukaryotic homologues, has significant intrinsic affinity for 7S RNA (K(D) approximately 15 nM), making it possible to directly compare particles formed in the presence and absence of SRP19 and thereby assess the precise role of SRP19 in the assembly process. Chemical modification studies using hydroxyl radicals and DEPC identify nonoverlapping primary binding sites for SRP19 and SRP54 corresponding to the tips of helix 6 and helix 8 (SRP19) and the distal loop and asymmetric bulge of helix 8 (SRP54). SRP19 additionally induces conformational changes concentrated in the proximal asymmetric bulge of helix 8. Selected nucleotides in this bulge become modified as a result of SRP19 binding but are subsequently protected from modification by formation of the complete complex with SRP54. Together these results suggest a model for assembly in which bridging the ends of helix 6 and helix 8 by SRP19 induces a long-range structural change to present the proximal bulge in a conformation compatible with high-affinity SRP54 binding.

Triphosphate structure of guanylate-binding protein 1 and implications for nucleotide binding and GTPase mechanism

The interferon-gamma-induced guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) belongs to a special class of large GTP- binding proteins of 60-100 kDa with unique characteristics. Here we present the structure of human GBP1 in complex with the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue GppNHp. Basic features of guanine nucleotide binding, such as the P-loop orientation and the Mg(2+) co-ordination, are analogous to those of Ras-related and heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins. However, the glycosidic bond and thus the orientation of the guanine base and its interaction with the protein are very different. Furthermore, two unique regions around the base and the phosphate-binding areas, the guanine and the phosphate caps, respectively, give the nucleotide-binding site a unique appearance not found in the canonical GTP-binding proteins. The phosphate cap, which constitutes the region analogous to switch I, completely shields the phosphate-binding site from solvent such that a potential GTPase-activating protein cannot approach. This has consequences for the GTPase mechanism of hGBP1 and possibly of other large GTP-binding proteins.

Archaeal protein translocation crossing membranes in the third domain of life

Proper cell function relies on correct protein localization. As a first step in the delivery of extracytoplasmic proteins to their ultimate destinations, the hydrophobic barrier presented by lipid-based membranes must be overcome. In contrast to the well-defined bacterial and eukaryotic protein translocation systems, little is known about how proteins cross the membranes of archaea, the third and most recently described domain of life. In bacteria and eukaryotes, protein translocation occurs at proteinaceous sites comprised of evolutionarily conserved core components acting in concert with other, domain-specific elements. Examination of available archaeal genomes as well as cloning of individual genes from other archaeal strains reveals the presence of homologues to selected elements of the bacterial or eukaryotic translocation machines. Archaeal genomic searches, however, also reveal an apparent absence of other, important components of these two systems. Archaeal translocation may therefore represent a hybrid of the bacterial and eukaryotic models yet may also rely on components or themes particular to this domain of life. Indeed, considering the unique chemical composition of the archaeal membrane as well as the extreme conditions in which archaea thrive, the involvement of archaeal-specific translocation elements could be expected. Thus, understanding archaeal protein translocation could reveal the universal nature of certain features of protein translocation which, in some cases, may not be readily obvious from current comparisons of bacterial and eukaryotic systems. Alternatively, elucidation of archaeal translocation could uncover facets of the translocation process either not yet identified in bacteria or eukaryotes, or which are unique to archaea. In the following, the current status of our understanding of protein translocation in archaea is reviewed.

SRPrises in RNA-protein recognition

The recent structure determination of the phylogenetically conserved cor re of the signal recognition particle (SRP) reveals a novel of highly un usual RNA-protein interface, where non-canonical base pairs play a centr al role. The structure shows how a helix-turn-helix motif can be employ ed to bind RNA and offers hints as to how the signal peptide is recogniz ed by the SRP.