In biochemical protein targeting, a peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS) is a region of the peroxisomalprotein that receptors recognize and bind to. It is responsible for specifying that proteins containing this motif are localised to the peroxisome.
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Overview
All peroxisomal proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and must be directed to the peroxisome.[2] The first step in this process is the binding of the protein to a receptor. The receptor then directs the complex to the peroxisome. Receptors recognize and bind to a region of the peroxisomal protein called a peroxisomal targeting signal, or PTS.
Peroxisomes consist of a matrix surrounded by a specific membrane. Most peroxisomal matrix proteins contain a short sequence, usually three amino acids at the extreme carboxy tail of the protein, that serves as the PTS. The prototypic sequence (many variations exist) is serine-lysine-leucine (-SKL in the one-letter amino acid code).[2][3] This motif, and its variations, is known as the PTS1, and the receptor is termed the PTS1 receptor.
It was found that the PTS1 receptor is encoded by the PEX5gene.[4]PEX5 imports folded proteins into the peroxisome, shuttling between the peroxisome and cytosol.[2]PEX5 interacts with a large number of other proteins, including Pex8p, 10p, 12p, 13p, 14p.
A few peroxisomal matrix proteins have a different, and less conserved sequence, at their amino termini. This PTS2 signal is recognized by the PTS2 receptor, encoded by the PEX7 gene.
"PEX" refers to a group of genes that were identified as being important for peroxisomal synthesis. The numerical attributions, such as PEX5, generally refer to the order in which they were first discovered.
A distinct motif is used for proteins destined for the peroxisomal membrane called the "mPTS" motif, which is more poorly defined and may consist of discontinuous subdomains.[2] One of these usually is a cluster of basic amino acids (arginines and lysines) within a loop of protein (i.e., between membrane spans) that will face the matrix. The mPTS receptor is the product of PEX19.[2]