How allosteric effectors influence protein translocation mediated by the Sec61 complex

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Volkhard Helms
• Subject Area: Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434188682

In eukaryotes, the protein biosynthesis is carried out either by cytosolic ribosomes or by ribosomes that are attached to the membrane of the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER). In the latter case, the newly synthesized “nascent peptide chain” (NC) is typically translocated into the ER or laterally inserted into the ER membrane via an integral membrane protein complex. In eukaryotes, its central component is termed the Sec61 complex. Proteins that should be translocated across the ER membrane carry a "signal Peptide" (SP) at their N-terminus. In the ER, this sequence is then cleaved off by the enzyme signal peptidase. Upon exiting from the ribosome, the signal recognition particle (SRP) binds SP of the newly synthesized NC at the ribosome. Subsequently, upon interaction of SRP and SRP receptor at the ER membrane, SRP dissociates from SP which then is free to insert into the Sec61 channel. This pathway is termed the co-translational, SRP-dependent pathway, which is the focus of the proposed work. Not all NCs that should pass Sec61 may do this on their own. Certain NCs require the presence of additional accessory membrane proteins such as TRAP and Sec62-Sec63. Until recently, it was unclear which features of SPs guide them through different translocation pathways. In prior published work, we have contributed to unraveling physico chemical features of SPs that distinguish TRAP clients or Sec62-63 clients from those proteins that do not require aid by such accessory proteins. Still, the mechanistic role of these accessory proteins and how they mechanistically affect cotranslational translocation is unknown. Furthermore, several small molecule effectors have been described in the literature (e.g. eeyarestatins, mycolactone, and Ipomoeassin F) that modulate the protein translocation efficiency of the Sec61 complex. In prior published work, we combined ligand docking with data from electrophysiology to suggest how eeyarestatins derivatives bind differentially in the Sec61 pore. Based on our published findings and on recent advances in structure determination of the Sec61 complex, we now aim at unravelling the mechanistic details how allosteric effectors influence protein translocation mediated by the Sec61 complex. We will implement an integrated computational and experimental approach. Specific aims of the proposed project are: (i) we want to characterize how SPs bind in the Sec61 pore, (ii) we want to characterize how accessory proteins alter the conformational sampling of SP in the Sec61 pore, (iii) we want to characterize the molecular consequences upon binding of small-molecule effectors to Sec61.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants