The ER protein Ema19 facilitates the degradation of nonimported mitochondrial precursor proteins.

ABSTRACT: For the biogenesis of mitochondria, hundreds of proteins need to be targeted from the cytosol into the various compartments of this organelle. The intramitochondrial targeting routes these proteins take to reach their respective location in the organelle are well understood. However, the early targeting processes, from cytosolic ribosomes to the membrane of the organelle, are still largely unknown. In this study, we present evidence that an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Ema19, plays a role in this process. Mutants lacking Ema19 show an increased stability of mitochondrial precursor proteins, indicating that Ema19 promotes the proteolytic degradation of nonproductive precursors. The deletion of Ema19 improves the growth of respiration-deficient cells, suggesti

SUBMITTER: Laborenz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8108515 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature