Proteins are targeted to the peroxisome matrix via processes that are mechanistically distinct from those used by other organelles. Protein entry into peroxisomes requires peroxin (PEX) proteins, including early-acting receptor (e.g. PEX5) and docking peroxins (e.g. PEX13 and PEX14) and late-acting PEX5-recycling peroxins (e.g. PEX4 and PEX6). We examined genetic interactions among Arabidopsis peroxin mutants and found that the weak pex13-1 allele had deleterious effects when combined with pex5-1 and pex14-2, which are defective in early-acting peroxins, as shown by reduced matrix protein import and enhanced physiological defects. In contrast, combining pex13-1 with pex4-1 or pex6-1, which are defective in late-acting peroxins, unexpectedly ameliorated mutant growth defects. Matrix protein import remained impaired in pex4-1 pex13-1 and pex6-1 pex13-1, suggesting that the partial suppression of pex4-1 and pex6-1 physiological defects by a weak pex13 allele may result from restoring the balance between import and export of PEX5 or other proteins that are retrotranslocated from the peroxisome with the assistance of PEX4 and PEX6. Our results suggest that symptoms caused by pex mutants defective in late-acting peroxins may result not only from defects in matrix protein import but also from inefficient removal of PEX5 from the peroxisomal membrane following cargo delivery.

Mutations in peroxisome biogenesis proteins (peroxins) can lead to developmental deficiencies in various eukaryotes. PEX14 and PEX13 are peroxins involved in docking cargo-receptor complexes at the peroxisomal membrane, thus aiding in the transport of the cargo into the peroxisomal matrix. Genetic screens have revealed numerous Arabidopsis thaliana peroxins acting in peroxisomal matrix protein import; the viable alleles isolated through these screens are generally partial loss-of-function alleles, whereas null mutations that disrupt delivery of matrix proteins to peroxisomes can confer embryonic lethality. In this study, we used forward and reverse genetics in Arabidopsis to isolate four pex14 alleles. We found that all four alleles conferred reduced PEX14 mRNA levels and displayed physiological and molecular defects suggesting reduced but not abolished peroxisomal matrix protein import. The least severe pex14 allele, pex14-3, accumulated low levels of a C-terminally truncated PEX14 product that retained partial function. Surprisingly, even the severe pex14-2 allele, which lacked detectable PEX14 mRNA and PEX14 protein, was viable, fertile, and displayed residual peroxisome matrix protein import. As pex14 plants matured, import improved. Together, our data indicate that PEX14 facilitates, but is not essential for peroxisomal matrix protein import in plants.

The ubiquitin-like protein RELATED TO UBIQUITIN (RUB) is conjugated to CULLIN (CUL) proteins to modulate the activity of Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) ubiquitylation complexes. RUB conjugation to specific target proteins is necessary for the development of many organisms, including Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Here, we report the isolation and characterization of e1-conjugating enzyme-related1-1 (ecr1-1), an Arabidopsis mutant compromised in RUB conjugation. The ecr1-1 mutation causes a missense change located two amino acid residues from the catalytic site cysteine, which normally functions to form a thioester bond with activated RUB. A higher ratio of unmodified CUL1 relative to CUL1-RUB is present in ecr1-1 compared to wild type, suggesting that the mutation reduces ECR1 function. The ecr1-1 mutant is resistant to the auxin-like compound indole-3-propionic acid, produces fewer lateral roots than wild type, displays reduced adult height, and stabilizes a reporter fusion protein that is degraded in response to auxin, suggesting reduced auxin signaling in the mutant. In addition, ecr1-1 hypocotyls fail to elongate normally when seedlings are grown in darkness, a phenotype shared with certain other RUB conjugation mutants that is not general to auxin-response mutants. The suite of ecr1-1 molecular and morphological phenotypes reflects roles for RUB conjugation in many aspects of plant growth and development. Certain ecr1-1 elongation defects are restored by treatment with the ethylene-response inhibitor silver nitrate, suggesting that the short ecr1-1 root and hypocotyl result from aberrant ethylene accumulation. Further, silver nitrate supplementation in combination with various auxins and auxin-like compounds reveals that members of this growth regulator family may differentially rely on ethylene signaling to inhibit root growth.

Peroxisomes are organelles that catabolize fatty acids and compartmentalize other oxidative metabolic processes in eukaryotes. Using a forward-genetic screen designed to recover severe peroxisome-defective mutants, we isolated a viable allele of the peroxisome biogenesis gene PEX13 with striking peroxisomal defects. The pex13-4 mutant requires an exogenous source of fixed carbon for pre-photosynthetic development and is resistant to the protoauxin indole-3-butyric acid. Delivery of peroxisome-targeted matrix proteins depends on the PEX5 receptor docking with PEX13 at the peroxisomal membrane, and we found severely reduced import of matrix proteins and less organelle-associated PEX5 in pex13-4 seedlings. Moreover, pex13-4 physiological and molecular defects were partially ameliorated when PEX5 was overexpressed, suggesting that PEX5 docking is partially compromised in this mutant and can be improved by increasing PEX5 levels. Because previously described Arabidopsis pex13 alleles either are lethal or confer only subtle defects, the pex13-4 mutant provides valuable insight into plant peroxisome receptor docking and matrix protein import.

Peroxisomes are eukaryotic organelles critical for plant and human development because they house essential metabolic functions, such as fatty acid β-oxidation. The interacting ATPases PEX1 and PEX6 contribute to peroxisome function by recycling PEX5, a cytosolic receptor needed to import proteins targeted to the peroxisomal matrix. mutants exhibit low PEX5 levels and defects in peroxisomal matrix protein import, oil body utilization, peroxisomal metabolism, and seedling growth. These defects are hypothesized to stem from impaired PEX5 retrotranslocation leading to PEX5 polyubiquitination and consequent degradation of PEX5 via the proteasome or of the entire organelle via autophagy. We recovered a missense mutation in a screen for second-site suppressors that restore growth to the mutant. Surprisingly, this mutation ameliorated the metabolic and physiological defects of without restoring PEX5 levels. Similarly, preventing autophagy by introducing an-null allele partially rescued physiological defects without restoring PEX5 levels. synergistically improved matrix protein import in , implying that improves peroxisome function in without impeding autophagy of peroxisomes (i.e., pexophagy). differentially improved peroxisome function in various alleles but worsened the physiological and molecular defects of a mutant, which is defective in the tether anchoring the PEX1-PEX6 hexamer to the peroxisome. Our results support the hypothesis that, beyond PEX5 recycling, PEX1 and PEX6 have additional functions in peroxisome homeostasis and perhaps in oil body utilization.