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Plant and Cell Physiology, 2004, Vol. 45, No. 6 723-733
© 2004 Oxford University Press

This article is dedicated to the memory of Professor Martin Luckner, who died in May 2004.

A Novel Arabidopsis thaliana Protein is a Functional Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptor

Peter Lindemann1,5, Antje Koch1, Babett Degenhardt1,6, Gerd Hause2,7, Bernhard Grimm3 and Vassilios Papadopoulos4

1 Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120 Halle, Germany
2 Biozentrum, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120 Halle, Germany
3 Institut für Kulturpflanzenforschung und Pflanzengenetik, Corrensstrasse 3, D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany
4 Departments of Cell Biology, Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

A key element in the regulation of mammalian steroid biosynthesis is the 18 kDa peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), which mediates mitochondrial cholesterol import. PBR also possess an affinity to the tetrapyrrole metabolite protoporphyrin. The bacterial homolog to the mammalian PBR, the Rhodobacter TspO (CrtK) protein, was shown to be involved in the bacterial tetrapyrrole metabolism. Looking for a similar mitochondrial import mechanism in plants, protein sequences from Arabidopsis and several other plants were found with significant similarities to the mammalian PBR and to the Rhodobacter TspO protein. A PBR-homologous Arabidopsis sequence was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant gene product showed specific high affinity benzodiazepine ligand binding. Moreover, the protein applied to E. coli protoplasts caused an equal benzodiazepine-stimulated uptake of cholesterol and protoporphyrin IX. These results suggest that the PBR like protein is involved in steroid import and is directing protoporphyrinogen IX to the mitochondrial site of protoheme formation.

5 Corresponding author: lindemann{at}pharmazie.uni-halle.de; Fax, +49-345-5527-213.

6 Present address: Institut für Biologie/Pflanzenphysiologie, Humboldt Universtät, Unter den Linden 6, D-10099 Berlin, Germany.

7 Present address: Jenapharm GmbH & Co. KG, Otto-Schott-Strasse 15, D-07745 Jena, Germany.


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