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Pex12p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a component of a multi-protein complex essential for peroxisomal matrix protein

M Albertini1, W Girzalsky, M Veenhuis

  • 1Abteilung für Zellbiochemie, Medizinische Fakultät der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.

European Journal of Cell Biology
|May 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

We identified a new yeast mutant, pex12, crucial for peroxisome biogenesis. This mutant is essential for importing matrix proteins via PTS1 and PTS2 pathways, highlighting Pex12p

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Peroxisome biogenesis is essential for cellular function.
  • Protein import into peroxisomes is a complex process involving specific pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel genes involved in peroxisome biogenesis.
  • To elucidate the function of the PEX12 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of mutants defective in peroxisome biogenesis.
  • Gene cloning by functional complementation.
  • Protein localization studies using immunofluorescence.
  • Co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays.

Main Results:

  • The pex12 deletion strain is defective in peroxisomal matrix protein import via PTS1 and PTS2 pathways.
  • PEX12 encodes an integral peroxisomal membrane protein, ScPex12p, with a RING finger domain.
  • ScPex12p interacts with other key components of the peroxisomal protein import machinery, including Pex10p, Pex5p, Pex13p, and Pex14p.
  • Peroxisomal membrane biogenesis is not impaired in pex12 deletion cells.

Conclusions:

  • Pex12p is a vital component of the peroxisomal protein translocation machinery.
  • The interaction of Pex12p with other import proteins is crucial for matrix protein targeting.
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pex12p is orthologous to Pex12 proteins in other species, suggesting conserved function.

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