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M De Silvestris

Publications and source records attributed to M De Silvestris.

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The targeting information of the mitochondrial outer membrane isoform of cytochrome b5 is contained within the carboxyl-terminal region.

Two isoforms of mammalian cytochrome b5, which have homologous cytosolic amino-terminal catalytic domains, are located one on endoplasmic reticulum (ER b5) the other on mitochondrial outer membranes (OM b5). A cDNA coding for the previously unknown carboxyl-terminal domain of OM b5 was cloned and a chimera between the catalytic domain of ER b5 and the carboxyl-terminal region of OM b5 was expressed in cultured mammalian cells. The chimera localized to mitochondria, indicating that the carboxyl-terminal 43 amino acids of OM b5 contain sufficient information to target the catalytic domain of ER b5 to the mitochondrial outer membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 isoforms as models for the study of post-translational targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Cytochrome b5 and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase are integral membrane proteins with cytosolic active domains and short membrane anchors, which are inserted post-translationally into their target membranes. Both are produced as different isoforms, with different localizations, in mammalian cells. In the rat, the reductase gene generates two transcripts by an alternative promoter mechanism: a ubiquitous mRNA coding for the myristylated membrane-bound form, and an erythroid mRNA which generates both the soluble form and a nonmyristylated membrane-binding form. The available evidence indicates that the ubiquitous myristylated form binds to the cytosolic face of both outer mitochondrial membranes and ER. In contrast, two genes code for two homologous forms of cytochrome b5, one of which is found on outer mitochondrial membranes, the other on the ER. The gene specifying the ER form probably also generates an erythroid-specific mRNA by alternative splicing, which codes for soluble cytochrome b5. Possible molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed localizations of these different enzyme isoforms are discussed.

Animals↗