Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

A protein complex required for signal-sequence-specific sorting and translocation

Abstract

We have purified a nascent-polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) which prevents short ribosome-associated nascent polypeptides from inappropriate interactions with proteins in the cytosol. NAC binds nascent-polypeptide domains emerging from ribosomes unless a signal peptide is fully exposed. Depletion of cytosolic proteins (including NAC) from ribosomes carrying nascent polypeptides allows the signal recognition particle (SRP) to crosslink to polypeptides irrespective of whether or not they contain signal peptides. In the absence of cytosol, proteins lacking signal peptides can be mistranslocated into the endoplasmic reticulum in vitro, albeit with low efficiency. Readdition of NAC restores the specificity of SRP and fidelity of translocation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blobel, G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 1496–1500 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rapoport, T. A. Science 258, 931–936 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gething, M.-J. & Sambrook, J. Nature 355, 33–45 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hendrick, J. P. & Hartl, F.-U. A. Rev. Biochem. 62, 349–384 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Walter, P., Gilmore, R. & Blobel, G. Cell 38, 5–8 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gilmore, R., Collins, P., Johnson, J., Kellaris, K. & Rapiejko, P. Meth. Cell Biol. 34, 223–239 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brunner, J. A. Rev. Biochem. 62, 483–514 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Görlich, D., Kurzchalia, T. V., Wiedmann, M. & Rapoport, T. A. Meth. Cell Biol. 34, 241–262 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Luirink, J. et al. Nature 359, 741–743 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Okubo, K. et al. Nature Genet. 2, 173–179 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kanno, M., Chalut, C. & Egly, J.-M. Gene 117, 219–228 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Walter, P., Ibrahimi, I. & Blobel, G. J. Cell Biol. 91, 545–550 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Krieg, U., Walter, P. & Johnson, A. E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8604–8608 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kurzchalia, T. V. et al. Nature 320, 634–636 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Walter, P. & Blobel, G. J. Cell Biol. 97, 1693–1699 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. High, S., Flint, N. & Dobberstein, B. J. Cell Biol. 113, 25–34 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wiedmann, M., Kurzchalia, T. V., Bielka, H. & Rapoport, T. A. J. Cell Biol. 104, 201–208 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Friedlander, M. & Blobel, G. Nature 318, 338–343 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rapiejko, P. J. & Gilmore, R. J. Cell Biol. 117, 493–503 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Blobel, G. & Dobberstein, B. J. Cell Biol. 67, 852–862 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gilmore, R., Blobel, G. & Walter, P. J. Cell Biol. 95, 463–469 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Malkin, L. I. & Rich, A. J. molec. Biol. 26, 329–346 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Blobel, G. & Sabatini, D. D. J. Cell Biol. 45, 130–145 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bernabeu, C. & Lake, J. A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 3111–3115 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Yonath, A., Leonard, K. R. & Wittmann, H. G. Science 236, 813–816 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Simon, S. M. & Blobel, G. Cell 69, 677–684 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Derman, A. I., Puziss, J. W., Bassford, P. J. & Beckwith, J. EMBO J. 12, 879–888 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Walter, P. & Blobel, G. Meth. Enzym. 96, 682–691 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Walter, P. & Blobel, G. Meth. Enzym. 96, 84–93 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wiedmann, M., Kurzchalia, T. V., Hartmann, E. & Rapoport, T. A. Nature 328, 830–833 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wiedmann, B., Sakai, H., Davis, T. et al. A protein complex required for signal-sequence-specific sorting and translocation. Nature 370, 434–440 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/370434a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/370434a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing