One feature of the PTS2 import pathway is the separation of the roles of the PTS receptor between two proteins. Pex7p alone is insufficient to act as the receptor for the import cycle for peroxisomal matrix proteins. In all cases, Pex7p needs a PTS2 co-receptor to form an import-competent PTS2 receptor complex together with the PTS2 cargo. We provide an overview of the proteins that have been i...

The import of a subset of peroxisomal matrix proteins is mediated by the peroxisomal targeting signal 2 (PTS2). The results of our sequence and physical property analysis of known PTS2 signals and of a mutational study of the least characterized amino acids of a canonical PTS2 motif indicate that PTS2 forms an amphipathic helix accumulating all conserved residues on one side. Three-dimensional ...

Dipyrithione (PTS2) possesses anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity. In the present study, we found that PTS2 dose-dependently inhibited the LPS-induced up-regulation of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein level in RAW264.7 cells. RT-PCR experiments showed that PTS2 suppressed LPS-induced iNOS but not COX-2 expression at the mRNA level. As expected, PTS2 prevente...

All eukaryotes so far studied, including animals, plants, yeasts and trypanosomes, have two pathways to target proteins to peroxisomes. These two pathways are specific for the two types of peroxisome targeting signal (PTS) present on peroxisomal matrix proteins. Remarkably, the complete genome sequence of Caenorhabditis elegans lacks the genes encoding proteins specific for the PTS2 targeting p...

Most peroxisomal matrix proteins possess a carboxy-terminal tripeptide targeting signal, termed peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), and follow a relatively well-characterized pathway of import into the organelle. The peroxisomal targeting signal type 2 (PTS2) pathway of peroxisomal matrix protein import is less well understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of PTS2 prote...

Two peroxisome targeting signals (PTSs) for matrix proteins have been well defined to date. PTS1 comprises a COOH-terminal tripeptide, SKL, and has been found in several matrix proteins, whereas PTS2 has been found only in peroxisomal thiolase and is contained within an NH2-terminal cleavable presequence. We have investigated the functional integrity of the import routes for PTS1 and PTS2 in fi...

Pex13p is the putative docking protein for peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1)-dependent protein import into peroxisomes. Pex14p interacts with both the PTS1- and PTS2-receptor and may represent the point of convergence of the PTS1- and PTS2-dependent protein import pathways. We report the involvement of Pex13p in peroxisomal import of PTS2-containing proteins. Like Pex14p, Pex13p not only in...

Recruiting matrix proteins with a peroxisomal targeting signal type 2 (PTS2) to the peroxisomal membrane requires species-specific factors. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the PTS2 receptor Pex7p acts in concert with the redundant Pex18p/Pex21p, whereas in Yarrowia lipolytica, Pex20p might unite the function of both S. cerevisiae peroxins. Herein, the genome of the filamentous fungus Neurospora cr...

We have cloned and characterized the Hansenula polymorpha PEX20 gene. The HpPEX20 gene encodes a protein of 309 amino acids (HpPex20p) with a calculated molecular mass of approximately 35 kDa. In cells of an HpPEX20 disruption strain, PTS2 proteins were mislocalized to the cytosol, whereas PTS1 matrix protein import proceeded normally. Also, the PTS2 proteins amine oxidase and thiolase were nor...

Peroxisomes compartmentalize certain metabolic reactions critical to plant and animal development. The import of proteins from the cytosol into the organelle matrix depends on more than a dozen peroxin (PEX) proteins, with PEX5 and PEX7 serving as receptors that shuttle proteins bearing one of two peroxisome-targeting signals (PTSs) into the organelle. PEX5 is the PTS1 receptor; PEX7 is the PTS...