Snapshots of actin and tubulin folding inside the TRiC chaperonin

Abstract

The integrity of a cells proteome depends on correct folding of polypeptides by chaperonins. The TCP-1 ring chaperonin (TRiC) acts as obligate folder for >10% of cytosolic proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin. While its architecture and how it recognises folding substrates is emerging from structural studies, the subsequent fate of substrates inside the TRiC chamber is not defined. We trapped endogenous human TRiC with substrates (actin, tubulin) and co-chaperone (PhLP2A) at different folding stages, for structure determination by cryogenic electron microscopy. The already-folded regions of client proteins are anchored at the chamber wall, positioning unstructured regions towards the central space to achieve their folding. Substrates engage with different sections of the chamber during the folding cycle, coupled to TRiC open-and-close transitions. Furthermore, the cochaperone PhLP2A modulates folding, acting as a molecular strut between substrate and TRiC chamber. Our structural snapshots piece together an emerging atomistic model of client protein folding through TRiC.