The heterotetrameric Sec62/63 complex associates with the heterotrimeric Sec61 complex to form the heptameric Sec complex. This complex is necessary and sufficient for post-translational protein translocation across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. We show that Sec63p is phosphorylated at its C-terminal domain by the protein kinase CK2 and that this phosphorylation strengthens the interaction between the cytosolic domains of Sec63p and Sec62p. Exchanging either threonine 652 or threonine 654 against the nonphosphorylatable alanines in Sec63p impairs the binding to Sec62p and interferes with the efficient translocation of proteins across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings show that phosphorylation of Sec63p is required for tightly recruiting the putative signal-sequence-binding subunit Sec62p to the Sec complex.

Keywords:
Sec complex, Split-ubiquitin, Signal sequence, Protein interaction, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
© The Company of Biologists Limited 2005
2005
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