Abstract

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 structural modeling of the PTS2 receptor PEX7 reveals a groove with an evolutionarily conserved charge distribution complementary to PTS2 signals. Mammalian two-hybrid assays and cross-complementation of a mutation in PTS2 by a compensatory mutation in PEX7 confirm the interaction site. An unstructured linker region separates the PTS2 signal from the core protein. This additional information on PTS2 signals was used to generate a PTS2 prediction algorithm that enabled us to identify novel PTS2 signals within human proteins and to describe KChIP4 as a novel peroxisomal protein.