Coexpressed subunits of dual genetic origin define a conserved supercomplex mediating essential protein import into chloroplasts
Silvia Ramundo, Yukari Asakura, Patrice A. Salomé, Daniela Strenkert, Morgane Boone, Luke C. M. Mackinder, Kazuaki Takafuji, Emine Dinc, Michèle Rahire, Michèle Crèvecœur, Leonardo Magneschi, Olivier Schaad, Michael Hippler, Martin C. Jonikas, Sabeeha Merchant, Masato Nakai, Jean‐David Rochaix, Peter Walter
Abstract
The Chlamydomonas TIC complex contains three nuclear-encoded subunits, Tic20, Tic56, and Tic100, and one chloroplast-encoded subunit, Tic214, and interacts with the TOC complex, as well as with several uncharacterized proteins to form a stable supercomplex (TIC-TOC), indicating that protein import across both envelope membranes is mechanistically coupled. Expression of the nuclear and chloroplast genes encoding both known and uncharacterized TIC-TOC components is highly coordinated, suggesting that a mechanism for regulating its biogenesis across compartmental boundaries must exist. Conditional repression of Tic214, the only chloroplast-encoded subunit in the TIC-TOC complex, impairs the import of chloroplast proteins with essential roles in chloroplast ribosome biogenesis and protein folding and induces a pleiotropic stress response, including several proteins involved in the chloroplast unfolded protein response. These findings underscore the functional importance of the TIC-TOC supercomplex in maintaining chloroplast proteostasis.