An alternative model of the twin arginine translocation system

authored by
Thomas Brüser, Carsten Sanders
Abstract

The twin arginine translocation (Tat) system is a machinery which can translocate folded proteins across energy transducing membranes. Currently it is supposed that Tat substrates bind directly to Tat translocon components before a ΔpH-driven translocation occurs. In this review, an alternative model is presented which proposes that membrane integration could precede Tat-dependent translocation. This idea is mainly supported by the recent observations of Tat-independent membrane insertion of Tat substrates in vivo and in vitro. Membrane insertion may allow i) a quality control of the folded state by membrane bound proteases like FtsH, ii) the recognition of the membrane spanning signal peptide by Tat system components, and iii) a pulling mechanism of translocation. In some cases of folded Tat substrates, the membrane targeting process may require ATP-dependent N-terminal unfolding-steps.

Organisation(s)
Institute of Microbiology
External Organisation(s)
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
University of Pennsylvania
Type
Review article
Journal
Microbiological Research
Volume
158
Pages
7-17
No. of pages
11
ISSN
0944-5013
Publication date
2003
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Microbiology
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-5013-00176 (Access: Open)