Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pmf1p is structurally and functionally related to Mmf1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A novel family of small proteins, termed p14.5 or YERO57c/YJGFc, has been identified. Independent studies indicate that p14.5 family members are multifunctional proteins involved in several pathways, e.g. regulation of translation or activation of the protease mu-calpain. We have previously shown that Mmf1p, a p14.5 of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is localized in the mitochondria and influences mitochondrial DNA stability. In addition, we have demonstrated that Mmf1p is functionally related to p14.5 of mammalian cells. To explore further the evolutionary conservation of the mitochondrial function(s) of the p14.5s we have extended our study to the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In this organism two p14.5 homologous proteins are present: Pmf1p (pombe mitochondrial factor 1) and Hpm1p (homologous Pmf1p factor 1). We have generated a specific Pmf1p antibody, which recognizes a single band of approximately 15 kDa in total cellular extracts. Cellular fractionation experiments indicate that Pmf1p localizes in the mitochondria as well as in the cytoplasm. We also show that Pmf1p shares several properties of S. cerevisiae Mmf1p. Indeed, Pmf1p restores the wild-type phenotype when expressed in delta mmf1 S. cerevisiae cells. Deletion of the leader sequence of Pmf1p abrogates its ability to localize in mitochondria and to functionally replace Mmf1p. Thus, these data together with our previous study show that the mitochondrial function(s) of the p14.5 family members are highly conserved in eukaryotic cells.