Membrane proteins need to be properly inserted and folded in the membrane in order to perform a range of activities that are essential for the survival of bacteria. The Sec translocon and the YidC insertase are responsible for the insertion of the majority of proteins into the cytoplasmic membrane. YidC can act in combination with the Sec translocon in the insertion and folding of membrane proteins. However, YidC also functions as an insertase independently of the Sec translocon for so-called YidC-only substrates. In addition, YidC can act as a foldase and promote the proper assembly of membrane protein complexes. Here, we investigate the effect of Escherichia coli YidC depletion on the assembly of penicillin binding proteins (PBPs), which are involved in cell wall synthesis. YidC depletion does not affect the total amount of the specific cell division PBP3 (FtsI) in the membrane, but the amount of active PBP3, as assessed by substrate binding, is reduced 2-fold. A similar reduction in the amount of active PBP2 was observed, while the levels of active PBP1A/1B and PBP5 were essentially similar. PBP1B and PBP3 disappeared from higher-M w bands upon YidC depletion, indicating that YidC might play a role in PBP complex formation. Taken together, our results suggest that the foldase activity of YidC can extend to the periplasmic domains of membrane proteins.
IMPORTANCE
This study addresses the role of the membrane protein insertase YidC in the biogenesis of penicillin binding proteins (PBPs).PBPs are proteins containing one transmembrane segment and a large periplasmic or extracellular domain, which are involved in peptidoglycan synthesis. We observe that in the absence of YidC, two critical PBPs are not correctly folded even though the total amount of protein in the membrane is not affected. Our findings extend the function of YidC as a foldase for membrane protein (complexes) to periplasmic domains of membrane proteins.
Membrane proteins need to be properly inserted and folded in the membrane in order to be functional. The Escherichia coli Sec translocon and the YidC insertase are involved in the insertion of the majority of membrane proteins into the membrane. YidC can act in combination with the Sec translocon to facilitate the insertion and folding of membrane proteins, but can also function on its own as an insertase for so-called YidC-only substrates (1). Although YidC was discovered more than 13 years ago (2, 3), only a few YidC-only substrates are known at present. YidC-only substrates have short translocated regions and include the F 1 F 0 -ATPase subunit c (4-7), the M13 phage procoat protein (8), the mechano-sensing MscL protein (9), the Sci-1 type VI secretion system subunit TssL (10), and the Pf3 coat protein (3).In addition to its role as an insertase, YidC can also act as a foldase for some proteins such as the sugar transporter LacY (11, 12) and mediate the proper assembly of membrane protein complexes such as the MalFGK 2 maltose transporter (13) and the MscL homopentameric pore (14). This ...