Premium
Membrane curvature during peroxisome fission requires Pex11
Author(s) -
Opaliński Łukasz,
Kiel Jan A K W,
Williams Chris,
Veenhuis Marten,
van der Klei Ida J
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/emboj.2010.299
Subject(s) - library science , genomics , biology , computer science , genome , genetics , gene
Pex11 is a key player in peroxisome proliferation, but the molecular mechanisms of its function are still unknown. Here, we show that Pex11 contains a conserved sequence at the N‐terminus that can adopt the structure of an amphipathic helix. Using Penicillium chrysogenum Pex11, we show that this amphipathic helix, termed Pex11‐Amph, associates with liposomes in vitro . This interaction is especially evident when negatively charged liposomes are used with a phospholipid content resembling that of peroxisomal membranes. Binding of Pex11‐Amph to negatively charged membrane vesicles resulted in strong tubulation. This tubulation of vesicles was also observed when the entire soluble N‐terminal domain of Pex11 was used. Using mutant peptides, we demonstrate that maintaining the amphipathic properties of Pex11‐Amph in conjunction with retaining its α‐helical structure are crucial for its function. We show that the membrane remodelling capacity of the amphipathic helix in Pex11 is conserved from yeast to man. Finally, we demonstrate that mutations abolishing the membrane remodelling activity of the Pex11‐Amph domain also hamper the function of full‐length Pex11 in peroxisome fission in vivo .