Import of glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase precursor into glyoxysomes: A heterologous in-vitro system.

A heterologous in-vitro system is described for the import of the precursor to glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad., cv. Kleckey's Sweet No. 6) cotyledons into glyoxysomes from castor-bean (Ricinus communis L.) endosperm. The 41-kDa precursor is posttranslationally sequestered and correctly processed to the mature 33-kDa subunit by a crude glyoxysomal fraction or by glyoxysomes purified on a sucrose gradient. The import and the cleavage of the extrasequence is not inhibited by metal chelators such as 1,10-phenanthroline and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Uncouplers (carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone), ionophores (valinomycin), or inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation (oligomycin) and ATP-ADP translocation (carboxyatractyloside) do not interfere, thus indicating the independence of the process of import by the organelle from the energization of the glyoxysomal membrane.