The central matrix loop drives import of uncoupling protein 1 into mitochondria.

The uncoupling protein (UCP1) is a carrier protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane spanning the bilayer six times. It does not contain a typical amino-terminal targeting signal and the mechanism of targeting and insertion is unknown. Here we focus on the biogenesis of UCP1 by analysing the import signals contained within the three repeated units of the protein. The amino-terminal third of the protein can mediate insertion into the outer membrane and therefore acts as artificial targeting signal when fused to DHFR. However, in the context of full-length UCP, the targeting information contained within the first repeated unit is not sufficient to trigger insertion into the outer membrane. Deletion of either the first or third repeated unit from UCP1 did not reduce import into the inner membrane and bound to the outer membrane receptor protein hTom20 with the characteristics of full-length UCP1. Deletion of the second repeat of UCP1 completely abolished all import into the mitochondria. Consistent with this, the central repeat alone was efficiently imported to the inner membrane and bound hTom20 with the characteristics of UCP1. We conclude that the site for binding hTom20 is within the central repeat and that this domain contains the complete targeting signal for directing UCP1 to the inner membrane.