3.2-3.4 Molecular traffic in the cell Flashcards
(78 cards)
Where does gated transport occur?
It is movement between the cytosol and the nucleus

What is imported into the nucleus?

What is exported from the nucleus?

What is the interior of the nucleus topologically equivalent to?



What are the structural features of the nuclear pore complex?
- 30 plus different protein types with 450 plus individual proteins
- octagonal arrangement
- central aqueous pore



Which molecules can pass through the nuclear pores freely by diffusion?
- Small molecules less than 5000 daltons pass through pores by diffusion

in what form do nuclear proteins pass through nuclear pores?
Nuclear proteins complete synthesis on cytosolic ribosomes and pass through pores in fully folded state

What shows that certain proteins are targetted to the nucleus?
- Nuclear localisation signal sequences
- They are a continuous stretch of amino acids 15-60 residues long
- Either at the N terminal or at a signal patch which has multiple internal sequences
- Recognised by complementary receptors

What is the amino acid composition of nuclear localisation signals?
- Commonly lys rich sequence PKKKRKV targets a protein to the nucleus
- Mutation of Lys to Thr causes cytoplasmic retention

What do nuclear import receptors bind to on the cargo protein?
- Cargo proteins which need to get into the nucleus bind to specific Nuclear import receptors (importins) via Nuclear localisation signals (NLS)
- Nuclear import receptors interact with the nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins to transfer cargo in/out of the nucleus

What are the steps of cargo being transported into the nucleus?
- Cargo with Nuclear localisation signal binds Nuclear import receptors
- Nuclear import receptors shuttles into the nucleus via the Nuclear Pore Complex (F-G repeats)
- Ran GTP binds to the Nuclear Import receptor to discharge the cargo
- Nuclear import receptor shuttles out of the nucleus via the Nuclear Porte Complex (F-G repeats)
- Ran-GTP is hydrolysed to Ran-GDP in the cytosol
- Nuclear import receptor is free to shuttle more cargo into the nucleus

How does export of proteins and RNA from nucleus differ from import?
- It works like import but in reverse

How is Ran-GTP and Ran-GDP compartmentalised?
- Ran-GEF stimulates Ran-GDP to release its GDP and pick up GTP whihc releases cargo
- When Ran-GTP coming out of the nucleus Ran-GAP binds to it and activates GTPase for hydrolysis

What is nuclear import regulated by?
- NFAT is a transcription factor found in the cytosol (T-cells)
- Nuclear localisation sequence is cryptic by exposed after dephosphorylation of amino acid residues (Ser) by Ca2+ regulated phosphatase (calcineurin)
- Dephosphorylation produces a conformational change
How does regulation of nuclear protein import influence fate decision in embryos?
- Fate decision in embryo determined by nuclear accumulation of specific transcription factors
- Dorsal protein has nuclear localisation only in ventral cells of early Drosophila embryo
- Mutation of Dorsal results in dorsalisation of embryos (no ventral structures)

How many membranes are cross in protein transport to the mitochondria?
Mitochondria have two membranes that need to be crossed for proteins to be targeted correctly

In what form are proteins imported to the mitochondria?
- Mitochondrial proteins are imported as fully synthesised but unfolded polypeptide chains
- mRNA produced in the nucleus exported through NPC, chaperones keep it unfolded
- They have specific targeting/signal sequence

What is the signal sequence for mitochrondial protein transport?
- Amphiphillic signal sequence which forms an alpha helix, non-polar (hydrophobic), polar, and hydrophillic residues on separate sides of the helix
- Hydrophobic region matches hydrophobic groove of receptor

What are the different protein translocators that move proteins through mitochondrial membranes?
- TOM complex = transport through outer membrane
- TIM23 complex = complex for transport through inner membrane

How does the protein use translocators to get through mitochondrial membranes?
- Protein snakes through translocators in unfolded state
- Signal sequence binds to TOM complex receptor
- TIM23 complex aligns with TOM complex and fed through TIM23
- In the matrix signal sequence is cleaved off and then the protein folds

How does mitochrondrial import use energy (ATP)?
- Chaperone proteins (cytoplasmic Hsp70) bind to the precursor peptide
- Their release requirs ATP hydrolysis to push the protein through the TOM complex
- Import via TIM results in mitochondiral Hsp70 binding
- ATP hydrolysis to pull protein through TIM complex

What other protein transport requires translocators?
Transport of proteins into peroxisomes involves translocators






















































