Localization of the Tat translocon components in Escherichia coli

verfasst von
Felix Berthelmann, Thomas Brüser
Abstract

The Tat system has the ability to translocate folded proteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. In Escherichia coli, three functionally different translocon components have been identified, namely TatA, TatB, and TatC. These proteins were fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and their localization was determined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. TatA-GFP was distributed in the membrane, often with higher abundance at the poles. TatB-GFP was found in distinct spots at the poles of the cells. The fluorescence of TatC-GFP was very low and required a constitutive expression system to become higher than background, but then appearing polar. All three constructs complemented the chain-formation phenotype of corresponding mutant strains, indicating the functionality of the fusion proteins. TatB-GFP and TatC-GFP also complemented TMAO respiration deficiency and TatA-GFP the SDS-sensitivity of the mutant strains. The localization of the translocon-GFP fusions coincides with the fluorescence pattern of GFP fusions to Tat substrate signal sequences. We suggest that the active translocon complexes are mainly present at polar positions in Escherichia coli.

Organisationseinheit(en)
Institut für Mikrobiologie
Externe Organisation(en)
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Typ
Artikel
Journal
FEBS Letters
Band
569
Seiten
82-88
Anzahl der Seiten
7
ISSN
0014-5793
Publikationsdatum
02.07.2004
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Biophysik, Strukturelle Biologie, Biochemie, Molekularbiologie, Genetik, Zellbiologie
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2004.05.054 (Zugang: Unbekannt)