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Related Concept Videos

Secondary Active Transport01:55

Secondary Active Transport

One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme “pump” embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
Secondary Active Transport01:32

Secondary Active Transport

One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme "pump" embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane01:11

Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane

Chloroplast outer membrane proteins encoded by the nucleus are synthesized in the cytosol. Soon after synthesis, they bind cytosolic factors such as 14-3-3 protein and the Hsp70 chaperones that keep these precursors in an unfolded state until their translocation.
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
Protein Transport to the Thylakoids01:22

Protein Transport to the Thylakoids

Thylakoids are membrane-bound sac-like structures within the chloroplast that serve as sites for photosynthesis. Thylakoid lumen contains many electron transport proteins and is enclosed by a thylakoid membrane rich in the light-harvesting complex. Proteins targeted to the thylakoids are transported as precursors and are sorted by the general TOC/TIC import pathway. Once the precursor reaches the stroma, stromal processing peptidases remove their transit signal and expose thylakoid signal...
Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane01:18

Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane

Proteins targeted to the inner chloroplast membrane, or plastid proteins, are transported by two general pathways: the stop-transfer and the re-insertion or post-import pathways. Most plastid proteins carry N-terminal transit sequences and internal import sequences targeting it to the specific chloroplast subcompartment. Proteins targeted by the stop-transfer pathway have internal hydrophobic sequences that inhibit their translocation into the stroma. As a result, these precursors are arrested...
Secondary Active Transport01:32

Secondary Active Transport

One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme "pump" embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...

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Isolation of Physiologically Active Thylakoids and Their Use in Energy-Dependent Protein Transport Assays
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Published on: September 28, 2018

A plastidial sodium-dependent pyruvate transporter.

Tsuyoshi Furumoto1, Teppei Yamaguchi, Yumiko Ohshima-Ichie

  • 1Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan. tfurumoto@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Nature
|August 26, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified BASS2, a novel sodium-coupled transporter crucial for importing pyruvate into plastids. This discovery clarifies a key step in plant metabolism and biosynthesis pathways.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Pyruvate is a vital precursor for plastid biosynthesis pathways, including fatty acids and amino acids.
  • The molecular mechanisms of pyruvate uptake into plastids remain largely uncharacterized due to passive diffusion challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the molecular mechanism responsible for pyruvate transport into plastids.
  • To characterize the function and localization of a novel transporter involved in pyruvate uptake.

Main Methods:

  • Differential transcriptome analysis of C3 and C4 plants (Flaveria and Cleome).
  • Gene identification (BASS2) and protein localization studies.
  • Recombinant protein expression and transport assays in E. coli.
  • Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana bass2 mutants.

Main Results:

  • Identified BASS2 (BILE ACID:SODIUM SYMPORTER FAMILY PROTEIN 2) as a novel gene highly abundant in C4 plants.
  • BASS2 is localized to the chloroplast envelope and exhibits sodium-dependent pyruvate uptake activity.
  • Arabidopsis bass2 mutants show impaired pyruvate uptake, affecting isopentenyl diphosphate synthesis and increasing mevastatin sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • BASS2 is a sodium-coupled transporter mediating pyruvate import into plastids.
  • This finding provides molecular evidence for a crucial metabolite transporter in plastid envelopes.
  • Widespread BASS2 orthologues suggest the conserved importance of sodium-coupled pyruvate import across land plants.