idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
01/10/2023 15:57

New insights into the formation of ATP synthase-Researchers at University Hospital Bonn discover new Hsp70 function

Petra Sandow Kommunikation und Medien
Universitätsklinikum Bonn

    Bonn, January 10, 2023 - Scientists led by Prof. Thomas Becker, Director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), have gained new insights into the formation of ATP synthase, the turbine of the cells' power plants, the mitochondria. A so-called "molecular chaperone", the protein Hsp70, carries out more functions in the maturation of proteins than previously thought. As the researchers have discovered, Hsp70 not only acts as a "folding helper" of proteins in mitochondria, but also promotes the assembly of ATP synthase. The new findings provide important findings for understanding how the ATP synthase is formed

    As it is well known, humans consist of many cells. If one considers each cell in the human body as a city with different buildings, then a mitochondrion is the power plant. Mitochondria produce the cellular energy currency ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is essential for various processes in the cell. In particular, nerve and muscle tissues require a lot of energy for their functions. As usual in power plants, it needs workers in it, and in the case of mitochondria, these are proteins that are imported into the power plant from the cytosol. The protein Hsp70 is involved in the import of many of these proteins into the interior of the mitochondria, the mitochondrial matrix, where it catalyzes the folding of the proteins so that they adopt the correct shape and do not clump together. Many proteins form together with partner proteins a functional unit called protein complexes. ATP synthase is one of such protein complexes, located in the inner membrane. ATP synthase produces the bulk of cellular energy and can therefore be considered as the turbine of cellular power plants.

    "The ATP synthase protein complex consists of a spinning rotor driven by the back transport of protons into the mitochondrial matrix. This part is connected to the enzyme's catalytic head by a stalk, the molecular stator. The rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the catalytic head, causing it to produce ATP. How the stator and the catalytic head are formed and linked together was previously only partially understood," explains Prof. Thomas Becker.

    The research group led by Prof. Thomas Becker at the UKB has now been able to gain new insights into this assembly process. The scientists have identified a central function of the protein Hsp70 in the formation of ATP synthase: Hsp70 is not only a folding helper, but also contributes to the assembly of this protein complex, according to the researchers.

    Dr. Jiyao Song, a post-doctoral researcher in Prof. Becker's group, discovered that Hsp70 is involved with partner proteins in the assembly of the catalytic head. Together with Dr. Dominic Winter's team, she was able to show that subunits of the ATP synthase accumulate at the Hsp70 when the assembly of the ATP synthase is disturbed. Dr. Song further discovered that Hsp70 monitors the linkage of the catalytic head to the stator. Thus, mitochondrial Hsp70 fulfills a dual function in the formation of ATP synthase: the assembly of the catalytic head and the controlled linkage of the head to the stator.

    This research project within Collaborative Research Center 1218 provides new insights into the functional spectrum of Hsp70 and the formation of a central protein machinery for energy production in cells. "Defects in the formation of ATP synthase or mitochondrial Hsp70 lead to diseases, especially of the nervous system. Therefore, the new results can provide important contributions to the understanding of these defects," said Prof. Dr. Thomas Becker.

    These findings are now published in the prestigious journal Nature Communication.

    Press contact:
    Juliana Stockheim
    Deputy Press Officer at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
    Communications and Media Office at Bonn University Hospital
    Tel. +49 228 287-19891
    E-Mail: juliana.stockheim@ukbonn.de

    About the University Hospital Bonn: The UKB cares for about 500,000 patients per year, employs 8,800 people and has a balance sheet total of 1.5 billion euros. In addition to the more than 3,300 medical and dental students, a further 580 women and men are trained each year in numerous healthcare professions. The UKB is ranked first among university hospitals in NRW in the science ranking, has the third highest case mix index in Germany and was the only one of the 35 German university hospitals to increase its performance in the Corona years 2020 and 2021.


    Contact for scientific information:

    Prof. Dr. Thomas Becker
    Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn
    Nußallee 11, 53115 Bonn


    Original publication:

    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35720-5


    Images

    Researchers led by Prof. Becker at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have found that mitochondrial Hsp70 takes over a dual function in the formation of ATP synthase: the assembly of the catalytic head and the controlled linkage of the head to the stator
    Researchers led by Prof. Becker at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have found that mitochondrial ...

    Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Scientists and scholars
    Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
    transregional, national
    Research results, Scientific Publications
    English


     

    Researchers led by Prof. Becker at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have found that mitochondrial Hsp70 takes over a dual function in the formation of ATP synthase: the assembly of the catalytic head and the controlled linkage of the head to the stator


    For download

    x

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).