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Mitochondrial presequence and open reading frame mediate asymmetric localization of messenger RNA
Author(s) -
Garcia Mathilde,
Delaveau Thierry,
Goussard Sebastien,
Jacq Claude
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/embor.2010.17
Subject(s) - open reading frame , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , mitochondrion , biology , translation (biology) , rna , genetics , gene , peptide sequence
Although a considerable amount of data have been gathered on mitochondrial translocases, which control the import of a large number of nuclear‐encoded proteins, the preceding steps taking place in the cytosol are poorly characterized. The localization of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) on the surface of mitochondria was recently shown to involve specific classes of protein and could be an important regulatory step. By using an improved statistical fluorescent in situ hybridization technique, we analysed the elements of the ATP2 open reading frame that control its mRNA asymmetric localization. The amino‐terminal mitochondrial targeting peptide (MTS) and translation of two elements in the coding sequence, R1 and R2, were required for anchoring of ATP2 mRNA to mitochondria. Unexpectedly, any MTS can replace ATP2 MTS, whereas R1 and R2 are specifically required to maintain perimitochondrial mRNA localization. These data connect the well‐known MTS–translocase interaction step with a site‐specific translation step and offer a mechanistic description for a co‐translational import process.