Characterization of GPIT-1 and GPIT-2, two auxiliary components of the Neurospora crassa GPI transamidase complex

Mycologia. 2009 Nov-Dec;101(6):764-72. doi: 10.3852/09-022.

Abstract

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) transamidase contains five known subunits and functions in the lumen of the ER to produce GPI-anchored proteins. The transamidase cleaves proteins containing a GPI anchor attachment signal at their C terminus and generates an amide bond between the newly generated carboxyl terminus of the protein and a GPI anchor. We have identified and characterized GPIT-1 and GPIT-2, two of the transamidase subunits from Neurospora crassa. GPIT-1 and GPIT-2 are homologs of the human PIG-T and PIG-U transamidase subunits respectively. We demonstrated that GPIT-2 is required for the addition of GPI anchors onto GPI-anchored proteins. We employed the Neurospora RIP (repeat-induced point mutation) phenomenon to generate 106 "noncritical" amino acid changes in GPIT-1 and 84 "noncritical" amino acid changes in GPIT-2. We used the data to evaluate three-dimensional models for the structures of GPIT-1 and GPIT-2. The mutational data for GPIT-1 is consistent with a multiple-blade propeller structure containing a central channel. The mutational analysis for GPIT-2 supports a structural model based on the karyopherin alpha subunit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / chemistry
  • Acyltransferases / genetics
  • Acyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Inositol / metabolism
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Neurospora crassa / enzymology*
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Inositol
  • Acyltransferases
  • COOH-terminal signal transamidase