Ningjian Gao L&S Biological Sciences
Pex8-Mediated Retrotranslocation of Peroxisomal Import Receptors
Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells that perform critical roles in cellular metabolism. They are essential for human health, and defects in peroxisome biogenesis cause severe developmental and neurological disorders, notably Zellweger Spectrum Disorder. As the peroxisome lacks a genome, peroxisomal enzymes are synthesized in the cytosol and imported fully folded via either C-terminal Peroxisomal Targeting Sequence 1 (PTS1) or N-terminal Peroxisomal Targeting Sequence 2 (PTS2). The PTS2 import complex comprises Pex7 and its co-receptor Pex18 or Pex21, but how Pex18 or Pex21 is delivered to the ubiquitin ligase complex for retrotranslocation remains unclear. Our group’s work suggested that Pex8, a soluble matrix protein, acts as a docking subunit to deliver the PTS1 receptor to the ubiquitin ligase for extraction, and we hypothesize that Pex8 plays a similar role in recycling Pex18 and Pex21 via an interface identified by AlphaFold3 modeling. For this project, I aim to investigate how Pex8 contributes to PTS2 receptor recycling in S. cerevisiae as a model organism.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you for generously supporting my summer research experience! I am excited to explore the intricacies of Pex8’s role in the recycling of PTS2 receptors in yeast, a project that closely aligns with my passion for understanding cellular health and developing my research skills. This opportunity means so much to me, and I am truly grateful for your support in helping me grow as a scientist.