Conserved targeting information in mammalian and fungal peroxisomal tail-anchored proteins

The targeting signals and mechanisms of soluble peroxisomal proteins are well understood, whereas less is known about the signals and targeting routes of peroxisomal membrane proteins (PMP). Pex15 and PEX26, tail-anchored proteins in yeast and mammals, respectively, exert a similar cellular function in the recruitment of AAA peroxins at the peroxisomal membrane. But despite their common role, Pex15 and PEX26 are neither homologs nor they are known to follow similar targeting principles. Here we show that Pex15 targets to peroxisomes in mammalian cells, and PEX26 reaches peroxisomes when expressed in yeast cells. In both proteins C-terminal targeting information is sufficient for correct sorting to the peroxisomal membrane. In yeast, PEX26 follows the pathway that also ensures correct targeting of Pex15: PEX26 enters the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a GET-dependent and Pex19-independent manner. Like in yeast, PEX26 enters the ER in mammalian cells, however, independently of GET/TRC40. These data show that conserved targeting information is employed in yeast and higher eukaryotes during the biogenesis of peroxisomal tail-anchored proteins.