Spc1 regulates substrate selection for signal peptidase

Abstract

Signal peptidase (SPase) cleaves the signal sequences (SSs) of secretory precursors. It contains an evolutionarily conserved membrane protein subunit, Spc1 that is dispensable for the catalytic activity of SPase, and its role remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the function of yeast Spc1. First, we set up an in vivo SPase cleavage assay using secretory protein CPY variants with SSs modified in the n and h regions. When comparing the SS cleavage efficiencies of these variants in cells with or without Spc1, we found that signal-anchored sequences become more susceptible to cleavage by SPase without Spc1. Further, SPase-mediated processing of transmembrane (TM) segments in model membrane proteins was reduced upon overexpression of Spc1. Spc1 was co-immunoprecipitated with membrane proteins carrying uncleaved signal-anchored or TM segments. These results suggest a role of Spc1 in shielding TM segments from SPase action, thereby contributing to accurate substrate selection for SPase.