IM30 triggers membrane fusion in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts

Raoul Hennig, Jennifer Heidrich, Michael Saur, Lars Schmüser, Steven J. Roeters, Nadja Hellmann, Sander Woutersen, Mischa Bonn, Tobias Weidner, Jürgen Markl and Dirk Schneider ()
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Raoul Hennig: Institut für Pharmazie and Biochemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Jennifer Heidrich: Institut für Pharmazie and Biochemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Michael Saur: Institut für Zoologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Lars Schmüser: Max Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung
Steven J. Roeters: Vant Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam
Nadja Hellmann: Institut für Molekulare Biophysik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Sander Woutersen: Vant Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam
Mischa Bonn: Max Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung
Tobias Weidner: Max Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung
Jürgen Markl: Institut für Zoologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Dirk Schneider: Institut für Pharmazie and Biochemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts and cyanobacteria is a unique internal membrane system harbouring the complexes of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. Despite their apparent importance, little is known about the biogenesis and maintenance of thylakoid membranes. Although membrane fusion events are essential for the formation of thylakoid membranes, proteins involved in membrane fusion have yet to be identified in photosynthetic cells or organelles. Here we show that IM30, a conserved chloroplast and cyanobacterial protein of approximately 30 kDa binds as an oligomeric ring in a well-defined geometry specifically to membranes containing anionic lipids. Triggered by Mg2+, membrane binding causes destabilization and eventually results in membrane fusion. We propose that IM30 establishes contacts between internal membrane sites and promotes fusion to enable regulated exchange of proteins and/or lipids in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8018

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