Models of post-translational protein translocation

Abstract

Organellar Hsp-70 is required for post-translational translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The functional role played by Hsp-70 is unknown. However, two operating principles have been suggested. The power stroke model proposes that Hsp-70 undergoes a conformational change, which pulls the precursor protein through the translocation pore, whereas, in the Brownian ratchet model, the role of Hsp-70 is simply to block backsliding through the pore. A mathematical analysis of both mechanisms is presented and reveals that qualitative differences between the models occur in the behavior of the mean velocity and effective diffusion coefficient as a function of Hsp-70 concentration. An experimental method is proposed for measuring these two quantities that only relies on current experimental techniques.