In humans the essentiality of proteins for peroxisomal biogenesis is reflected in the fatal disease "Zellweger Syndrom", which is caused by defective proteins (peroxins). In human fibroblasts and in cells of Pichia pastoris the knockout of PEX10 leads to accumulation of empty membrane vesicles that are deficient in the import of matrix proteins, whereas knockouts in Hansenula polymorpha fibroblasts completely lack peroxisomal structures. So far, only six out of presumably 15 peroxins from various plant species have been clo-ned. In this study, the cDNA sequence of two additional Arabidopsis peroxins, PTS2-receptor PEX7 and putative integral membrane protein PEX10, are described. The object of the study was the characterization of AthPex10p as an essential peroxin homolog in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The analysis of a PEX10 transposon line revealed an ER-correlated role of the gene during formation of lipid bodies and protein vesicles. Knockout of the gene resulted in an abnor-mal membrane organization in embryogenesis and no formation of peroxisomes as shown by ultrastructural analyses. Complementation with the complete gene restored the wild type phenotype, while this was not the case with pex10 containing a disrupted zincfinger motive. In order to investigate additional roles of AthPex10p in peroxisomal function dZnpex10 containing a disrupted zincfinger motive was overexpressed in wild type plants. Analysis of growth and photosynthesis in normal atmosphere as well as in atmosphere with a five fold higher CO2 concentration revealed a striking correlation between peroxisomal func-tionality and photorespiratory effects. Localization studies of AthPex10p in H. polymorpha supported the hypothesis of a multi-ple pleiotropic function of PEX10 in plants. This is supported by complementation analy-ses of Pex10 deficient yeast strains with different hybrid constructs. Indications of ER-dependent functions of AthPEX10 during early peroxisome biogenesis in Arabodopsis cell cultures were obtained in collaboration with the Department of Biology, Arizona State University by in situ localization analysis with an antibody recognizing Ath-PEX10-6His. The observations from the different approaches were rationalized into a model of the func-tion of AthPex10 in early organelle biogenesis and into a model on import of matrixpro-teins into peroxisomes of plants.
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In humans the essentiality of proteins for peroxisomal biogenesis is reflected in the fatal disease "Zellweger Syndrom", which is caused by defective proteins (peroxins). In human fibroblasts and in cells of Pichia pastoris the knockout of PEX10 leads to accumulation of empty membrane vesicles that are deficient in the import of matrix proteins, whereas knockouts in Hansenula polymorpha fibroblasts completely lack peroxisomal structures. So far, only six out of presumably 15 peroxins from variou...
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