Maturation of the unusual single-cysteine (XXXCH) mitochondrial c-type cytochromes found in trypanosomatids must occur through a novel biogenesis pathway.

Allen, J. W. A. and Ginger, Michael L. and Ferguson, S. J. (2004) Maturation of the unusual single-cysteine (XXXCH) mitochondrial c-type cytochromes found in trypanosomatids must occur through a novel biogenesis pathway. Biochemical Journal, 383 (3). pp. 537-542. ISSN 0264-6021

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Abstract

The c-type cytochromes are characterized by the covalent attachment of haem to the polypeptide via thioether bonds formed from haem vinyl groups and, normally, the thiols of two cysteines in a CXXCH motif. Intriguingly, the mitochondrial cytochromes c and c1 from two euglenids and the Trypanosomatidae contain only a single cysteine within the haem-binding motif (XXXCH). There are three known distinct pathways by which c-type cytochromes are matured post-translationally in different organisms. The absence of genes encoding any of these c-type cytochrome biogenesis machineries is established here by analysis of six trypanosomatid genomes, and correlates with the presence of single-cysteine cytochromes c and c1. In contrast, we have identified a comprehensive catalogue of proteins required for a typical mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation apparatus. Neither spontaneous nor catalysed maturation of the single-cysteine Trypanosoma brucei cytochrome c occurred in Escherichia coli. However, a CXXCH variant was matured by the E. coli cytochrome c maturation machinery, confirming the proposed requirement of the latter for two cysteines in the haem-binding motif and indicating that T. brucei cytochrome c can accommodate a second cysteine in a CXXCH motif. The single-cysteine haem attachment conserved in cytochromes c and c1 of the trypanosomatids is suggested to be related to their cytochrome c maturation machinery, and the environment in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Our genomic and biochemical studies provide very persuasive evidence that the trypanosomatid mitochondrial cytochromes c are matured by a novel biogenesis system.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Biochemical Journal
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1303
Subjects:
?? c-type cytochromecytochrome c biogenesiseuglenamitochondrial respiratory chainoxidative phosphorylationtrypanosome.biochemistrycell biologymolecular biologyqh301 biology ??
ID Code:
9625
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
17 Jun 2008 14:08
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 11:42