Members of the AAA family of ATPases assemble into hexameric double rings and perform vital functions, yet their molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report structures of the Pex1/Pex6 complex; mutations in these proteins frequently cause peroxisomal diseases. The structures were determined in the presence of different nucleotides by cryo-electron microscopy. Models were generated using a computational approach that combines Monte Carlo placement of structurally homologous domains into density maps with energy minimization and refinement protocols. Pex1 and Pex6 alternate in an unprecedented hexameric double ring. Each protein has two N-terminal domains, N1 and N2, structurally related to the single N domains in p97 and N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF); N1 of Pex1 is mobile, but the others are packed against the double ring. The N-terminal ATPase domains are inactive, forming a symmetric D1 ring, whereas the C-terminal domains are active, likely in different nucleotide states, and form an asymmetric D2 ring. These results suggest how subunit activity is coordinated and indicate striking similarities between Pex1/Pex6 and p97, supporting the hypothesis that the Pex1/Pex6 complex has a role in peroxisomal protein import analogous to p97 in ER-associated protein degradation.Pex1 | Pex6 | AAA ATPase | cryo-electron microscopy | peroxisome T he AAA (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) family of ATPases contains a large number of proteins that perform important functions in cells (1). Many members of this family form hexamers. These hexamers consist either of a single ring of ATPase domains or of stacked rings formed by tandem ATPase domains in a single polypeptide chain (type I and II ATPases, respectively). Both classes of AAA ATPases often use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move macromolecules. Examples of single-ring ATPases include the F1 ATPase (2), which rotates a polypeptide inside its central pore, ClpX (3), which moves polypeptides into the proteolytic chamber of ClpP, and the helicase gp4 of T7 phage (4), which pulls a DNA strand through its center. Double-ring ATPases generally act on polypeptides. Prominent members of this family include N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF), p97/VCP (valosin-containing protein), and Hsp104 in eukaryotes and ClpB in bacteria (5-7). NSF dissociates SNARE complexes generated during membrane fusion, p97/VCP plays a role in many processes, including ERassociated protein degradation (ERAD), and Hsp104 and ClpB disassemble protein aggregates.The molecular mechanism of many hexameric AAA ATPases is only poorly understood, particularly for those that move polypeptide chains. In addition, the mechanism appears to differ among the known examples. For the F1 ATPase, it has been established that ATPase domains hydrolyze ATP continuously in a strictly consecutive manner around the ring (2). In contrast, in another single-ring ATPase, ClpX, several ATPase domains hydrolyze ATP in sporadic bursts, either simultaneously or in short succession...

The current study provides mechanistic insight into the overlapping dynamics by which glycoprotein folding and quality control use distinct intracellular compartments as part of the proteostasis network in mammalian cells.

Peroxisomes import proteins with a C-terminal SKL sequence by a poorly understood mechanism. Romano et al. use Xenopus egg extracts to study peroxisome import in vitro. The novel assay recapitulates import in vivo and provides mechanistic insights.