A lipid associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome regulates endosome structure and function

Protein sorting into multivesicular endosomes

Multivesicular endosomes are important as compartments for receptor downregulation and as intermediates in the formation of secretory lysosomes. Work during the past year has shed light on the molecular mechanisms of protein sorting into multivesicular endosomes and yielded information about the machinery involved in multivesicular endosome formation. Monoubiquitination functions as a signal for sorting transmembrane proteins into intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular endosomes and subsequent delivery to lysosomes. A molecular machinery that contains the ubiquitin-binding protein Hrs/Vps27 appears to be central in this sorting process. Three conserved multisubunit complexes, ESCRT-I, -II and -III, are essential for both sorting and multivesicular endosomes formation. Enveloped RNA viruses such as HIV can redirect these complexes from multivesicular endosomes to the plasma membrane to facilitate viral budding.

Salmonella type III effectors PipB and PipB2 are targeted to detergent-resistant microdomains on internal host cell membranes

The intracellular pathogen, Salmonella enterica, translocates type III effectors across its vacuolar membrane into host cells. Herein we describe a new Salmonella effector, PipB2, which has sequence similarity to another type III effector, PipB. In phagocytic cells, PipB2 localizes to the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) and tubular extensions from the SCV, Salmonella-induced filaments (Sifs). We used the specific targeting of PipB2 in macrophages to characterize Sifs in phagocytic cells for the first time. In epithelial cells, PipB2 has a unique localization pattern, localizing to SCVs and Sifs and additionally to vesicles at the periphery of infected cells. We further show that the N-terminal 225-amino-acid residues of PipB2 are sufficient for type III translocation and association with SCVs and Sifs, but not peripheral vesicles. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that both PipB and PipB2 associate with host cell membranes and resist extraction by high salt, high pH and to a significant extent, non-ionic detergent. Furthermore, PipB and PipB2 are enriched in detergent-resistant microdomains (DRMs), also known as lipid rafts, present on membranes of SCVs and Sifs. The enrichment of Salmonella effectors in DRMs on these intracellular membranes probably permits specific interactions with host cell molecules that are concentrated in these signalling platforms.

Lipids in endocytic membrane transport and sorting

Protein complexes associated to specific membrane lipids and protein-lipid domains contribute to regulate protein sorting and membrane dynamics in the endocytic pathway. It is also becoming apparent that different lipid territories are distributed along the pathway, and that some lipids segregate into specialised microdomains.

Annexin II regulates multivesicular endosome biogenesis in the degradation pathway of animal cells

Proteins of the annexin family are believed to be involved in membrane-related processes, but their precise functions remain unclear. Here, we have made use of several experimental approaches, including pathological conditions, RNA interference and in vitro transport assays, to study the function of annexin II in the endocytic pathway. We find that annexin II is required for the biogenesis of multivesicular transport intermediates destined for late endosomes, by regulating budding from early endosomes-but not the membrane invagination process. Hence, the protein appears to be a necessary component of the machinery controlling endosomal membrane dynamics and multivesicular endosome biogenesis. We also find that annexin II interacts with cholesterol and that its subcellular distribution is modulated by the subcellular distribution of cholesterol, including in cells from patients with the cholesterol-storage disorder Niemann-Pick C. We conclude that annexin II forms cholesterol-containing platforms on early endosomal membranes, and that these platforms regulate the onset of the degradation pathway in animal cells.

Differential sorting of human delta-opioid receptors after internalization by peptide and alkaloid agonists

Desensitization and internalization of G protein-coupled receptors observed after agonist activation are considered two important regulatory processes of receptor transduction. Endogenous human delta-opioid receptors (hDOR) are differentially regulated in terms of desensitization by peptide ([d-Pen2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and Deltorphin I) and alkaloid (etorphine) agonists in the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE (Allouche, S., Roussel, M., Marie, N., and Jauzac, P. (1999) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 371, 235-240). In the present study, we examined the role of hDOR internalization and down-regulation in this differential desensitization. Sustained activation by peptides for 30 min caused a marked decrease of both [3H]diprenorphine binding sites and hDOR immunoreactivity, observed in a Western blot, whereas a moderate reduction by 30% was observed after a 30- and 60-min etorphine exposure in binding experiments without opioid receptor degradation. Using fluorescence microscopy, we visualized hDOR internalization promoted by different agonists in SK-N-BE cells expressing FLAG-tagged hDOR. Agonist withdrawal results in a greater recycling process correlated with a stronger hDOR resensitization after etorphine treatment compared with DPDPE or Deltorphin I, as shown in binding, immunocytochemical, and functional experiments. This suggests a distinct sorting of opioid receptors after their internalization. We demonstrated a lysosomal hDOR targeting upon peptides by using chloroquine in binding, Western blot, and immunocytochemical experiments and by colocalization of this receptor with a late endosome marker. In contrast, when the recycling endosome blocker monensin was used, acceleration of desensitization associated with a strong intracellular immunostaining was observed upon etorphine treatment. The possibility of separate endocytic pathways responsible for the differential sorting of hDOR upon peptide and alkaloid ligand exposure was ruled out by binding and immunocytochemical experiments using sucrose hypertonic solution. First, these results showed complex relationships between hDOR internalization/down-regulation and desensitization. Second, we demonstrated for the first time that the same receptor could undergo a distinct sorting after internalization by peptide and alkaloid agonists.

Encapsulation of p-THPP into nanoparticles: cellular uptake, subcellular localization and effect of serum on photodynamic activity

The cellular uptake, localization and efflux of meso-tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (p-THPP)-loaded nanoparticles have been studied in EMT-6 tumor cells. The effect of blood serum on photocytotoxicity has also been evaluated. Sub-130 nm nanoparticles based on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) (50:50 PLGA and 75:25 PLGA) and poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) have been examined in comparison with free p-THPP. For all formulations tested, uptake of photosensitizer into cells was dependent on concentration, time and temperature. All nanoparticulate formulations accumulated within the cells to a greater extent relative to free drug. Indeed, the fluorescence intensities measured on EMT-6 cells treated with p-THPP-loaded nanoparticulate formulations were at least two-fold higher than those obtained with free dye. Furthermore, the highest accumulation level was found with PLGA nanoparticles. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that endocytosis is a major intracellular sequestration mechanism of these p-THPP formulations and that these were localized into early and late endosomes. The efflux study performed on both nonirradiated and irradiated cells indicated that free and p-THPP-loaded nanoparticles gradually escaped from EMT-6 cells as a function of time. This was more pronounced when cells were treated with nanoparticles and irradiated, reflecting important photodamage. It was also found that regardless of the nanoparticulate formulations tested, p-THPP photocytotoxicity was influenced by the concentration of the serum.

Biosynthesis and degradation of mammalian glycosphingolipids

Glycolipids are a large and heterogeneous family of sphingolipids that form complex patterns on eukaryotic cell surfaces. This molecular diversity is generated by only a few enzymes and is a paradigm of naturally occurring combinatorial synthesis. We report on the biosynthetic principles leading to this large molecular diversity and focus on sialic acid-containing glycolipids of the ganglio-series. These glycolipids are particularly concentrated in the plasma membrane of neuronal cells. Their de novo synthesis starts with the formation of the membrane anchor, ceramide, at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is continued by glycosyltransferases of the Golgi complex. Recent findings from genetically engineered mice are discussed. The constitutive degradation of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) occurs in the acidic compartments, the endosomes and the lysosomes. Here, water-soluble glycosidases sequentially cleave off the terminal carbohydrate residues from glycolipids. For glycolipid substrates with short oligosaccharide chains, the additional presence of membrane-active sphingolipid activator proteins (SAPs) is required. A considerable part of our current knowledge about glycolipid degradation is derived from a class of human diseases, the sphingolipidoses, which are caused by inherited defects within this pathway. A new post-translational modification is the attachment of glycolipids to proteins of the human skin.

deep-orange and carnation define distinct stages in late endosomal biogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Endosomal degradation is severely impaired in primary hemocytes from larvae of eye color mutants of Drosophila. Using high resolution imaging and immunofluorescence microscopy in these cells, products of eye color genes, deep-orange (dor) and carnation (car), are localized to large multivesicular Rab7-positive late endosomes containing Golgi-derived enzymes. These structures mature into small sized Dor-negative, Car-positive structures, which subsequently fuse to form tubular lysosomes. Defective endosomal degradation in mutant alleles of dor results from a failure of Golgi-derived vesicles to fuse with morphologically arrested Rab7-positive large sized endosomes, which are, however, normally acidified and mature with wild-type kinetics. This locates the site of Dor function to fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles with the large Rab7-positive endocytic compartments. In contrast, endosomal degradation is not considerably affected in car1 mutant; fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles and maturation of large sized endosomes is normal. However, removal of Dor from small sized Car-positive endosomes is slowed, and subsequent fusion with tubular lysosomes is abolished. Overexpression of Dor in car1 mutant aggravates this defect, implicating Car in the removal of Dor from endosomes. This suggests that, in addition to an independent role in fusion with tubular lysosomes, the Sec1p homologue, Car, regulates Dor function.

Identification of the ricin lipase site and implication in cytotoxicity

Ricin is a heterodimeric plant toxin and the prototype of type II ribosome-inactivating proteins. Its B-chain is a lectin that enables cell binding. After endocytosis, the A-chain translocates through the membrane of intracellular compartments to reach the cytosol where its N-glycosidase activity inactivates ribosomes, thereby arresting protein synthesis. We here show that ricin possesses a functional lipase active site at the interface between the two subunits. It involves residues from both chains. Mutation to alanine of catalytic serine 221 on the A-chain abolished ricin lipase activity. Moreover, this mutation slowed down the A-chain translocation rate and inhibited toxicity by 35%. Lipase activity is therefore required for efficient ricin A-chain translocation and cytotoxicity. This conclusion was further supported by structural examination of type II ribosome-inactivating proteins that showed that this lipase site is present in toxic (ricin and abrin) but is altered in nontoxic (ebulin 1 and mistletoe lectin I) members of this family.

Interactions between pH-sensitive liposomes and model membranes

The structure and dynamics of two different pH-sensitive liposome systems were investigated by means of cryo-transmission electron microscopy and different photophysical techniques. Both systems consisted of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and contained either oleic acid (OA) or a novel acid-labile polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid (DHCho-MPEG5000) as stabiliser. Proton induced leakage, lipid mixing and structural changes were studied in the absence and presence of EPC liposomes, as well as in the presence of liposomes designed to model the endosome membrane. Neither DHCho-MPEG5000- nor OA-stabilised liposomes showed any tendency for fusion with pure EPC liposomes or endosome-like liposomes composed of EPC/DOPE/SM/Cho (40/20/6/34 mol.%). Our investigations showed, however, that incorporation of lipids from the pH-sensitive liposomes into the endosome membrane may lead to increased permeability and formation of non-lamellar structures. Taken together the results suggest that the observed ability of DOPE-containing liposomes to mediate cytoplasmic delivery of hydrophilic molecules cannot be explained by a mechanism based on a direct, and non-leaky, fusion between the liposome and endosome membranes. A mechanism involving destabilisation of the endosome membrane due to incorporation of DOPE, seems more plausible.

Identification of phospholipid scramblase 1 as a novel interacting molecule with beta -secretase (beta -site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme (BACE))

beta-Site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme (BACE) is an integral membrane aspartic proteinase responsible for beta-site processing of APP, and its cytoplasmic region composed of 24 amino acid residues has been shown to be involved in the endosomal localization of BACE. With the yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that the cytoplasmic domain of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1), a type II integral membrane protein, interacts with the cytoplasmic region of BACE. In cultured cells, BACE and PLSCR1 were colocalized in the Golgi area and in endosomal compartments, whereas they were co-redistributed in late endosome-derived multivesicular bodies when treated with U18666A, suggesting that both proteins share a common trafficking pathway in cells. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that both proteins form a protein complex at an endogenous expression level in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Ycells, and the dileucine residue of the BACE tail is also revealed to be essential for the physical interaction with PLSCR1 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, both BACE and PLSCR1 were localized in a low buoyant lipid microdomain in SH-SY5Y cells. The dileucine-defective BACE mutant was also fractionated into the lipid microdomain, but much less stably than wild-type BACE. Taken together, our current study suggests the functional involvement of PLSCR1 in the intracellular distribution of BACE and/or recruitment of BACE into the detergent-insoluble lipid raft.

Benzyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide induces a storage disease-like phenotype by perturbing the endocytic pathway

The sugar analog O-benzyl-N-acetyl-alpha-d-galactosaminide (BG) is an inhibitor of glycan chain elongation and inhibits alpha2,3-sialylation in mucus-secreting HT-29 cells. Long-term exposure of these cells to BG is associated with the accumulation of apical glycoproteins in cytoplasmic vesicles. The mechanisms involved therein and the nature of the vesicles have not been elucidated. In these cells, a massive amount of BG metabolites is synthesized. Because sialic acid is mainly distributed apically in epithelial cells, it has been proposed that the BG-induced undersialylation of apical membrane glycoproteins is responsible for their intracellular accumulation due to a defect in anterograde traffic and that sialic acid may constitute an apical targeting signal. In this work, we demonstrate that the intracellular accumulation of membrane glycoproteins does not result mainly from defects in anterograde traffic. By contrast, in BG-treated cells, endocytosed membrane proteins were retained intracellularly for longer periods of time than in control cells and colocalized with accumulated MUC1 and beta(1) integrin in Rab7/lysobisphosphatidic acid(+) vesicles displaying features of late endosomes. The phenotype of BG-treated cells is reminiscent of that observed in lysosomal storage disorders. Sucrose induced a BG-like, lysosomal storage disease-like phenotype without affecting sialylation, indicating that undersialylation is not a requisite for the intracellular accumulation of membrane glycoproteins. Our findings strongly support the notion that the effects observed in BG-treated cells result from the accumulation of BG-derived metabolites and from defects in the endosomal pathway. We propose that abnormal subcellular distribution of membrane glycoproteins involved in cellular communication and/or signaling may also take place in lysosomal storage disorders and may contribute to their pathogenesis.

Recycling compartments and the internal vesicles of multivesicular bodies harbor most of the cholesterol found in the endocytic pathway

We employed our recently developed immuno-electron microscopic method (W. Möbius, Y. Ohno-Iwashita, E. G. van Donselaar, V. M. Oorschot, Y. Shimada, T. Fujimoto, H. F. Heijnen, H. J. Geuze and J. W. Slot, J Histochem Cytochem 2002; 50: 43-55) to analyze the distribution of cholesterol in the endocytic pathway of human B lymphocytes. We could distinguish 6 categories of endocytic compartments on the basis of morphology, BSA gold uptake kinetics and organelle marker analysis. Of all cholesterol detected in the endocytic pathway, we found 20% in the recycling tubulo-vesicles and 63% present in two types of multivesicular bodies. In the multivesicular bodies, most of the cholesterol was contained in the internal membrane vesicles, the precursors of exosomes secreted by B cells. Cholesterol was almost absent from lysosomes, that contained the bulk of the lipid bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, also termed lysobisphosphatidic acid. Thus, cholesterol displays a highly differential distribution in the various membrane domains of the endocytic pathway.

Alterations in the Arf6-regulated plasma membrane endosomal recycling pathway in cells overexpressing the tetraspan protein Gas3/PMP22

Growth arrest specific 3 (Gas3)/peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) is a component of the compact peripheral nerve myelin, and mutations affecting gas3/PMP22 gene are responsible for a group of peripheral neuropathies in humans. We have performed in vivo imaging in order to investigate in detail the phenotype induced by Gas3/PMP22 overexpression in cultured cells. Here we show that Gas3/PMP22 triggers the accumulation of vacuoles, before the induction of cell death or of changes in cell spreading. Overexpressed Gas3/PMP22 accumulates into two distinct types of intracellular membrane compartments. Gas3/PMP2 accumulates within late endosomes close to the juxtanuclear region, whereas in the proximity of the cell periphery, it induces the formation of actin/phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP(2))-positive large vacuoles. Gas3/PMP22-induced vacuoles do not contain transferrin receptor, but instead they trap membrane proteins that normally traffic through the ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) endosomal compartment. Arf6 and Arf6-Q67L co-localize with Gas3/PMP22 in these vacuoles, and the dominant negative mutant of Arf6, T27N, blocks the appearance of vacuoles in response to Gas3/PMP22, but not its accumulation in the late endosomes. Finally a point mutant of Gas3/PMP22 responsible for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A disease is unable to trigger the accumulation of PIP(2)-positive vacuoles. Altogether these results suggest that increased Gas3/PMP22 levels can alter membrane traffic of the Arf6 plasma-membrane-endosomal recycling pathway and show that, similarly to other tetraspan proteins, Gas3/PMP22 can accumulate in the late endosomes.

Biogenesis of lamellar bodies, lysosome-related organelles involved in storage and secretion of pulmonary surfactant

Lamellar bodies are members of a subclass of lysosome-related organelles referred to as secretory lysosomes. The principal constituents of the lamellar body, surfactant phospholipids, are organized into tightly packed, bilayer membranes in a process that is strongly influenced by the lung-specific, hydrophobic peptide SP-B. Newly synthesized SP-B is transported from the Golgi to the lamellar body via multivesicular bodies; in contrast, preliminary evidence suggests that newly synthesized surfactant phospholipids are transported from the ER and incorporated into the internal membranes of the lamellar body via a distinct pathway.

The Balbiani body and generation of early asymmetry in the oocyte of a tiger beetle

The developmental changes within the Balbiani body in previtellogenic and early vitellogenic oocytes of a tiger beetle, Pseudoxycheila angustata, are described. Our study showed that the Balbiani body forms in a juxtanuclear position in previtellogenic oocytes. Subsequently, it disperses within the ooplasm while multivesicular bodies, a prominent component of the Balbiani body in this species, segregate out and are targeted to the posterior pole of the oocyte. We demonstrated that the Balbiani body is a temporary site of organelle accumulation and sorting and it is involved in the creation of an early polarity during oogenesis. Our data suggest that the multivesicular bodies, initially associated with the Balbiani body, may ultimately contribute to the formation of the pole plasm (oosome). Our study is the first description of the presence of the Balbiani body in oocytes of an insect with a meroistic ovary and only the second known example of the Balbiani body in insects in general. In addition, we showed, for the first time, that the components of Balbiani body participate in the formation of the pole plasm in insects. Interestingly, the oocytes of a European species of tiger beetles do not develop the Balbiani body. We discuss the developmental and evolutionary aspects of this finding.

Phosphatidylinositol-3,5-Bisphosphate Is a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Acid Sphingomyelinase

Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase, EC 3.1.4.12) catalyzes the lysosomal degradation of sphingomyelin to phosphorylcholine and ceramide. Inherited deficiencies of acid sphingomyelinase activity result in various clinical forms of Niemann-Pick disease, which are characterised by massive lysosomal accumulation of sphingomyelin. Sphingomyelin hydrolysis by both, acid sphingomyelinase and membrane-associated neutral sphingomyelinase, plays also an important role in cellular signaling systems regulating proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Here, we present a potent and selective novel inhibitor of A-SMase, L-alpha-phosphatidyl-D-myo-inositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns3,5P2), a naturally occurring substance detected in mammalian, plant and yeast cells. The inhibition constant Ki for the new A-SMase inhibitor PtdIns3,5P2 is 0.53 microM as determined in a micellar assay system with radiolabeled sphingomyelin as substrate and recombinant human A-SMase purified from insect cells. Even at concentrations of up to 50 microM, PtdIns3,5P2 neither decreased plasma membrane-associated, magnesium-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase activity, nor was it an inhibitor of the lysosomal hydrolases beta-hexosaminidase A and acid ceramidase. Other phosphoinositides tested had no or a much weaker effect on acid sphingomyelinase. Different inositol-bisphosphates were studied to elucidate structure-activity relationships for A-SMase inhibition. Our investigations provide an insight into the structural features required for selective, efficient inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase and may also be used as starting point for the development of new potent A-SMase inhibitors optimised for diverse applications.

A dominant negative form of the AAA ATPase SKD1/VPS4 impairs membrane trafficking out of endosomal/lysosomal compartments: class E vps phenotype in mammalian cells

SKD1 is a member of the family of ATPases associated with cellular activities whose yeast homologue Vps4p has been implicated in endosomal/vacuolar membrane transports. When a mutant of SKD1 that lacks ATPase activity [SKD1(E235Q)] was overexpressed in mammalian cells, it induced a dominant negative phenotype characterized by aberrant endosomal structures (denoted as E235Q compartments). Expression of SKD1(E235Q) caused an accumulation of basolateral recycling receptors, such as asialoglycoprotein receptor and low-density lipoprotein in polarized hepatocytes and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, respectively, in E235Q compartments. In addition, SKD1(E235Q) also abrogated, via endosomes, transport to the trans-Golgi network, as indicated by an accumulation of TGN38 in E235Q compartments. Three lines of evidence further demonstrated that SKD1 participates in the membrane transport from early endosomes to late endosomes/lysosomes: (1) a redistribution of a late endosomal and lysosomal membrane protein endolyn in E235Q compartments; (2) an inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor degradation, due to an accumulation of the receptors in E235Q compartments; and (3) a mis-sorting of and defect in the proteolytic processing of newly synthesized cathepsin D. An intriguing finding was that the expression of SKD1(E235Q) caused the number of lysosomes to decrease (to one-sixth of control numbers) but their size to increase (2.4-fold larger in diameter than control lysosomes). Indeed, an ultrastructural analysis revealed that the expression of SKD1(E235Q) causes an accumulation of hybrid organelles formed by direct fusion between late endosomes and lysosomes. We conclude that SKD1 regulates multiple steps of membrane transport out of early endosomes and the reformation of lysosomes from a hybrid organelle.

Dynamics of endosomal sorting

The endocytic pathway receives cargo from the cell surface via endocytosis, biosynthetic cargo from the late Golgi complex, and various molecules from the cytoplasm via autophagy. This review focuses on the dynamics of the endocytic pathway in relationship to these processes and covers new information about the sorting events and molecular complexes involved. The following areas are discussed: dynamics at the plasma membrane, sorting within early endosomes and recycling to the cell surface, the role of the cytoskeleton, transport to late endosomes and sorting into multivesicular bodies, anterograde and retrograde Golgi transport, as well as the autophagic pathway.

Colocalisation of the protein tyrosine phosphatases PTP-SL and PTPBR7 with beta4-adaptin in neuronal cells

The mouse gene Ptprr encodes the neuronal protein tyrosine phosphatases PTP-SL and PTPBR7. These proteins differ in their N-terminal domains, with PTP-SL being a cytosolic, membrane-associated phosphatase and PTPBR7 a type I transmembrane protein. In this study, we further explored the nature of the PTP-SL-associated vesicles in neuronal cells using a panel of organelle markers and noted a comparable subcellular distribution for PTP-SL and the beta4-adaptin subunit of the AP4 complex. PTP-SL, PTPBR7 and beta4-adaptin are localised at the Golgi apparatus and at vesicles throughout the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that PTP-SL, PTPBR7 and beta4-adaptin are all endogenously expressed in brain. Interestingly, coexpression of PTP-SL and beta4-adaptin leads to an altered subcellular localisation for PTP-SL. Instead of the Golgi and vesicle-type staining pattern, still observable for beta4-adaptin, PTP-SL is now distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Although beta4-adaptin was found to interact with the phosphatase domain of PTP-SL and PTPBR7 in the yeast two-hybrid system, it failed to do so in transfected neuronal cells. Our data suggest that the tyrosine phosphatases PTP-SL and PTPBR7 may be involved in the formation and transport of AP4-coated vesicles or in the dephosphorylation of their transmembrane cargo molecules at or near the Golgi apparatus.

SopD2 is a novel type III secreted effector of Salmonella typhimurium that targets late endocytic compartments upon delivery into host cells

Salmonella typhimuriumis a facultative intracellular pathogen that utilizes two type III secretion systems to deliver virulence proteins into host cells. These proteins, termed effectors, alter host cell function to allow invasion into and intracellular survival/replication within a vacuolar compartment. Here we describe SopD2, a novel member of the Salmonella translocated effector (STE) family, which share a conserved N-terminal type III secretion signal. Disruption of the sopD2 gene prolonged the survival of mice infected with a lethal dose of Salmonella typhimurium, demonstrating a significant role for this effector in pathogenesis. Expression of sopD2 was induced inside host cells and was dependent on functional ssrA/B and phoP/Q, two component regulatory systems. HA-tagged SopD2 was delivered into HeLa cells in a SPI-2-dependent manner and associated with both the Salmonella-containing vacuole and with swollen endosomes elsewhere in the cell. Subcellular fractionation confirmed that SopD2 was membrane associated in host cells, while the closely related effector SopD was localized to the cytosol. A SopD2 fusion to GFP associated with small tubular structures and large vesicles containing late endocytic markers, including Rab7. Surprisingly, expression of N-terminal amino acids 1-150 of SopD2 fused to GFP was sufficient to mediate both binding to late endosomes/lysosomes and swelling of these compartments. These findings demonstrate that the N-terminus of SopD2 is a bifunctional domain required for both type III secretion out of Salmonella as well as late endosome/lysosome targeting following translocation into host cells.

Fusion and fission events in the endocytic pathway of Dictyostelium

The endocytic pathway in Dictyostelium appears as a short circuit between endocytosis and exocytosis. Within the hour that elapses between internalization of nutrients and release of remnants, digestion by lysosomal enzymes occurs. Meanwhile, the maturing endosome undergoes a complex series of fusion and fission events, which change its character profoundly and which are far from being fully understood. This review attempts to order the dynamic events into a sequence of stages that is most consistent with present knowledge.

Receptor downregulation and multivesicular-body sorting

The sorting of proteins into the inner vesicles of multivesicular bodies is required for many key cellular processes, which range from the downregulation of activated signalling receptors to the proper stimulation of the immune response. Recent advances in our understanding of the multivesicular-body sorting pathway have resulted from the identification of ubiquitin as a signal for the efficient sorting of proteins into this transport route, and from the discovery of components of the sorting and regulatory machinery that directs this complex process.

Purification and properties of a phospholipase A2/lipase preferring phosphatidic acid, bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate, and monoacylglycerol from rat testis

Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) was purified to homogeneity from the supernatant fraction of rat testis homogenate. The purified 63-kDa enzyme did not require Ca(2+) ions for activity and exhibited both phosphatidic acid-preferring PLA(2) and monoacylglycerol lipase activities with a modest specificity toward unsaturated acyl chains. Anionic detergents enhanced these activities. Serine-modifying irreversible inhibitors, (p-amidinophenyl) methanesulfonyl fluoride and methylarachidonyl fluorophosphonate, inhibited both activities to a similar extent, indicating a single active site is involved in PLA(2) and lipase activities. The sequence of NH(2)-terminal 12 amino acids of purified enzyme was identical to that of a carboxylesterase from rat liver. The optimal pH for PLA(2) activity (around 5.5) differed from that for lipase activity (around 8.0). At pH 5.5 the enzyme also hydrolyzed bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate, or lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA), that has been hitherto known as a secretory PLA(2)-resistant phospholipid and a late endosome marker. LBPA-enriched fractions were prepared from liver lysosome fractions of chloroquine-treated rats, treated with excess of pancreatic PLA(2), and then used for assaying LBPA-hydrolyzing activity. LBPA and the reaction products were identified by microbore normal phase high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry. These enzymatic properties suggest that the enzyme can metabolize phosphatidic and lysobisphosphatidic acids in cellular acidic compartments.

A role for the lysosomal membrane protein LGP85 in the biogenesis and maintenance of endosomal and lysosomal morphology

LGP85 (LIMP II) is a type III transmembrane glycoprotein that is located primarily in the limiting membranes of lysosomes and late endosomes. Despite being the abundant molecule of these compartments, whether LGP85 merely resides as one of the constituents of these membranes or plays a role in the regulation of endosome and lysosome biogenesis remains unclear. To elucidate these questions, we examined the effects of overexpression of LGP85 on the morphology and membrane traffic of the endosomal/lysosomal system. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of LGP85 causes an enlargement of early endosomes and late endosomes/lysosomes. Such a morphological alteration was not observed by overexpression of other lysosomal membrane proteins, LGP107 (LAMP-1) or LGP96 (LAMP-2), reflecting a LGP85-specific function. We further demonstrate that overexpression of LGP85 impairs the endocytic membrane traffic out of these enlarged compartments, which may be correlated with or account for the accumulation of cholesterol observed in these compartments. Interestingly, co-transfection of LGP85 and the dominant-negative form of Rab5b (Rab5bS34N) abolished the formation of large vacuoles, suggesting that the GTP-bound active form of Rab5b is involved in the enlargement of endosomal/lysosomal compartments induced by overexpression of LGP85. Thus, these findings provide important new insights into the role of LGP85 in the biogenesis and the maintenance of endosomes/lysosomes. We conclude that LGP85 may participate in reorganizing the endosomal/lysosomal compartments.

Modulation of cellular cholesterol transport and homeostasis by Rab11

To analyze the contribution of vesicular trafficking pathways in cellular cholesterol transport we examined the effects of selected endosomal Rab proteins on cholesterol distribution by filipin staining. Transient overexpression of Rab11 resulted in prominent accumulation of free cholesterol in Rab11-positive organelles that sequestered transferrin receptors and internalized transferrin. Sphingolipids were selectively redistributed as pyrene-sphingomyelin and sulfatide cosequestered with Rab11-positive endosomes, whereas globotriaosyl ceramide and GM2 ganglioside did not. Rab11 overexpression did not perturb the transport of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine-perchlorate-labeled low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to late endosomes or the Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1)-induced late endosomal cholesterol clearance in NPC patient cells. However, Rab11 overexpression inhibited cellular cholesterol esterification in an LDL-independent manner. This effect could be overcome by introducing cholesterol to the plasma membrane by using cyclodextrin as a carrier. These results suggest that in Rab11-overexpressing cells, deposition of cholesterol in recycling endosomes results in its impaired esterification, presumably due to defective recycling of cholesterol to the plasma membrane. The findings point to the importance of the recycling endosomes in regulating cholesterol and sphingolipid trafficking and cellular cholesterol homeostasis.

Separation and characterization of late endosomal membrane domains

Very little is known about the biophysical properties and the lipid or protein composition of membrane domains presumably present in endocytic and biosynthetic organelles. Here we analyzed the membrane composition of late endosomes by suborganellar fractionation in the absence of detergent. We found that the internal membranes of this multivesicular organelle can be separated from the limiting membrane and that each membrane population exhibited a defined composition. Our data also indicated that internal membranes may consist of at least two populations, containing primarily phosphatidylcholine or lysobisphosphatidic acid as major phospholipid, arguing for the existence of significant microheterogeneity within late endosomal membranes. We also found that lysobisphosphatidic acid exhibited unique pH-dependent fusogenic properties, and we speculated that this lipid is an ideal candidate to regulate the dynamic properties of this internal membrane mosaic.

Cholesterol modulates the membrane binding and intracellular distribution of annexin 6

Annexins are Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-binding proteins that are widely expressed in mammalian tissues and that bind to different cellular membranes. In recent years its role in membrane traffic has emerged as one of its predominant functions, but the regulation of its intracellular distribution still remains unclear. We demonstrated that annexin 6 translocates to the late endocytic compartment in low density lipoprotein-loaded CHO cells. This prompted us to investigate whether cholesterol, one of the major constituents of low density lipoprotein, could influence the membrane binding affinity and intracellular distribution of annexin 6. Treatment of crude membranes or early and late endosomal fractions with digitonin, a cholesterol-sequestering agent, displayed a strong reduction in the binding affinity of a novel EDTA-resistant and cholesterol-sensitive pool of annexin 6 proteins. In addition, U18666A-induced accumulation of cholesterol in the late endosomal compartment resulted in a significant increase of annexin 6 in these vesicles in vivo. This translocation/recruitment correlates with an increased membrane binding affinity of GST-annexin 6 to late endosomes of U18666A-treated cells in vitro. In conclusion, the present study shows that changes in the intracellular distribution and concentration of cholesterol in different subcellular compartments participate in the reorganization of intracellular pools of Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent annexin 6.

Isolation and characterization of a reservosome fraction from Trypanosoma cruzi

Reservosomes are acidic compartments present at the posterior region of epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi that store proteins and lipids. During metacyclogenesis, they consume their contents and disappear. Reservosomes are rich in cruzipain, the main proteolytic enzyme of this parasite. By centrifugation in a sucrose gradient, we have obtained a highly purified subcellular fraction containing reservosomes from 5-day-old Y strain epimastigotes. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the fraction contained well-preserved organelles. The protein profile of the organelle analyzed by SDS-PAGE depicted a wide range of protein bands, predominating those corresponding to a triplet of 60-51 kDa and a doublet of 25-23 kDa. Protease activity in substrate-containing gels, in the presence or absence of protease inhibitors, showed that cysteine proteinase is enriched and very active in the purified fraction. Enzymatic assays demonstrated the absence of pyrophosphatase, an acidocalcisome marker, and succinate cytochrome c reductase, a mitochondrial marker, although these enzymes were active in other regions of the purification sucrose gradient. Thin layer chromatographic neutral lipid analysis of purified reservosomes demonstrated that the organelle stores large amounts of ergosterol and esterified cholesterol. Phospholipid analysis indicated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major constituents of reservosome membranes.

Differential sorting and fate of endocytosed GPI-anchored proteins

In this paper, we studied the fate of endocytosed glycosylphosphatidyl inositol anchored proteins (GPI- APs) in mammalian cells, using aerolysin, a bacterial toxin that binds to the GPI anchor, as a probe. We find that GPI-APs are transported down the endocytic pathway to reducing late endosomes in BHK cells, using biochemical, morphological and functional approaches. We also find that this transport correlates with the association to raft-like membranes and thus that lipid rafts are present in late endosomes (in addition to the Golgi and the plasma membrane). In marked contrast, endocytosed GPI-APs reach the recycling endosome in CHO cells and this transport correlates with a decreased raft association. GPI-APs are, however, diverted from the recycling endosome and routed to late endosomes in CHO cells, when their raft association is increased by clustering seven or less GPI-APs with an aerolysin mutant. We conclude that the different endocytic routes followed by GPI-APs in different cell types depend on the residence time of GPI-APs in lipid rafts, and hence that raft partitioning regulates GPI-APs sorting in the endocytic pathway.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate induces the membrane penetration of the FYVE domains of Vps27p and Hrs

The FYVE domain mediates the recruitment of proteins involved in membrane trafficking and cell signaling to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P)-containing membranes. To elucidate the mechanism by which the FYVE domain interacts with PtdIns(3)P-containing membranes, we measured the membrane binding of the FYVE domains of yeast Vps27p and Drosophila hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate and their mutants by surface plasmon resonance and monolayer penetration analyses. These measurements as well as electrostatic potential calculation show that PtdIns(3)P specifically induces the membrane penetration of the FYVE domains and increases their membrane residence time by decreasing the positive charge surrounding the hydrophobic tip of the domain and causing local conformational changes. Mutations of hydrophobic residues located close to the PtdIns(3)P-binding pocket or an Arg residue directly involved in PtdIns(3)P binding abrogated the penetration of the FYVE domains into the monolayer, the packing density of which is comparable with that of biological membranes and large unilamellar vesicles. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism of the membrane binding of the FYVE domain in which the domain first binds to the PtdIns(3)P-containing membrane by specific PtdIns(3)P binding and nonspecific electrostatic interactions, which is then followed by the PtdIns(3)P-induced partial membrane penetration of the domain.

Lipid metabolism and vesicle trafficking: more than just greasing the transport machinery

The movement of lipids from their sites of synthesis to ultimate intracellular destinations must be coordinated with lipid metabolic pathways to ensure overall lipid homeostasis is maintained. Thus, lipids would be predicted to play regulatory roles in the movement of vesicles within cells. Recent work has highlighted how specific lipid metabolic events can affect distinct vesicle trafficking steps and has resulted in our first glimpses of how alterations in lipid metabolism participate in the regulation of intracellular vesicles. Specifically, (i) alterations in sphingolipid metabolism affect the ability of SNAREs to fuse membranes, (ii) sterols are required for efficient endocytosis, (iii) glycerophospholipids and phosphorylated phosphatidylinositols regulate Golgi-mediated vesicle transport, (iv) lipid acylation is required for efficient vesicle transport mediated membrane fission, and (v) the addition of glycosylphosphatidylinositol lipid anchors to proteins orders them into distinct domains that result in their preferential sorting from other vesicle destined protein components in the endoplasmic reticulum. This review describes the experimental evidence that demonstrates a role for lipid metabolism in the regulation of specific vesicle transport events.

Oiling the wheels of the endocytic pathway

An ever more complete picture of the organization and function of the endocytic pathway is emerging. New mechanisms, and in particular lipid-based mechanisms that couple membrane dynamics and sorting, are being unraveled. But the final picture is still coming into focus as new membrane domains, cell entry pathways and compartments come into view. Of special interest are the recent findings that pathogenic agents, in contrast to scientists, seem to have long discovered how to subvert membrane specialization to their own advantage.

Sonic hedgehog induces the segregation of patched and smoothened in endosomes

BACKGROUND

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signal transduction involves the ligand binding Patched1 (Ptc1) protein and a signaling component, Smoothened (Smo). A select group of compounds inhibits both Shh signaling, regulated by Ptc1, and late endosomal lipid sorting, regulated by the Ptc-related Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein. This suggests that Ptc1 regulates Smo activity through a common late endosomal sorting pathway also utilized by NPC1. During signaling, Ptc accumulates in endosomal compartments, but it is unclear if Smo follows Ptc into the endocytic pathway.

RESULTS

We characterized the dynamic subcellular distributions of Ptc1, Smo, and activated Smo mutants individually and in combination. Ptc1 and Smo colocalize extensively in the absence of ligand and are internalized together after ligand binding, but Smo becomes segregated from Ptc1/Shh complexes destined for lysosomal degradation. In contrast, activated Smo mutants do not colocalize with nor are cotransported with Ptc1. Agents that block late endosomal transport and protein sorting inhibit the ligand-induced segregation of Ptc1 and Smo. We show that, like NPC1-regulated lipid sorting, Shh signal transduction is blocked by antibodies that specifically disrupt the internal membranes of late endosomes, which provide a platform for protein and lipid sorting.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support a model in which Ptc1 inhibits Smo only when in the same compartment. Ligand-induced segregation allows Smo to signal independently of Ptc1 after becoming sorted from Ptc1/Shh complexes in the late endocytic pathway.

Modulation of receptor cycling by neuron-enriched endosomal protein of 21 kD

Although correct cycling of neuronal membrane proteins is essential for neurite outgrowth and synaptic plasticity, neuron-specific proteins of the implicated endosomes have not been characterized. Here we show that a previously cloned, developmentally regulated, neuronal protein of unknown function binds to syntaxin 13. We propose to name this protein neuron-enriched endosomal protein of 21 kD (NEEP21), because it is colocalized with transferrin receptors, internalized transferrin (Tf), and Rab4. In PC12 cells, NEEP21 overexpression accelerates Tf internalization and recycling, whereas its down-regulation strongly delays Tf recycling. In primary neurons, NEEP21 is localized to the somatodendritic compartment, and, upon N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) stimulation, the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptor subunit GluR2 is internalized into NEEP21-positive endosomes. NEEP21 down-regulation retards recycling of GluR1 to the cell surface after NMDA stimulation of hippocampal neurons. In summary, NEEP21 is a neuronal protein that is localized to the early endosomal pathway and is necessary for correct receptor recycling in neurons.

Rab proteins mediate Golgi transport of caveola-internalized glycosphingolipids and correct lipid trafficking in Niemann-Pick C cells

We recently showed that human skin fibroblasts internalize fluorescent analogues of the glycosphingolipids lactosylceramide and globoside almost exclusively by a clathrin-independent mechanism involving caveolae. In contrast, a sphingomyelin analogue is internalized approximately equally via clathrin-dependent and caveolar routes. Here, we further characterized the caveolar pathway for glycosphingolipids, showing that Golgi targeting of sphingolipids internalized via caveolae required microtubules and phosphoinositol 3-kinases and was inhibited in cells expressing dominant-negative Rab7 and Rab9 constructs. In addition, overexpression of wild-type Rab7 or Rab9 (but not Rab11) in Niemann-Pick type C (NP-C) lipid storage disease fibroblasts resulted in correction of lipid trafficking defects, including restoration of Golgi targeting of fluorescent lactosylceramide and endogenous GM(1) ganglioside, and a dramatic reduction in intracellular cholesterol stores. Our results demonstrate a role for Rab7 and Rab9 in the Golgi targeting of glycosphingolipids and suggest a new therapeutic approach for restoring normal lipid trafficking in NP-C cells.

Rab7 gene is up-regulated by cholesterol-rich diet in the liver and artery

To identify genes responding to the cholesterol-rich diet, differentially expressed hepatic genes have been searched from a diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbit by differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR). Among the many screened genes, Rab7 gene was shown to be distinctively up-regulated in response to the cholesterol-loading into the rabbit. To visualize the location of elevated Rab7 expression in tissues, patterns of the gene expression were monitored within hepatic and aortic tissues by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The expression of Rab7 was obviously increased in the hepatic tissues, especially in the endothelial cells and hepatocytes around central veins of the high cholesterol-fed rabbit, compared to the tissues from rabbit fed a normal diet. To find out a potential relationship between the Rab7 and the atherogenesis, the same experiments were conducted with the atherosclerotic plaques obtained from rabbit and human. The elevated expression of Rab7 gene was clearly evident in both tissues, suggesting that the Rab7 may be involved in the process of atherogenesis.

Overexpression of the myelin proteolipid protein leads to accumulation of cholesterol and proteolipid protein in endosomes/lysosomes: implications for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease

Duplications and overexpression of the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene are known to cause the dysmyelinating disorder Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD). To understand the cellular response to overexpressed PLP in PMD, we have overexpressed PLP in BHK cells and primary cultures of oligodendrocytes with the Semliki Forest virus expression system. Overexpressed PLP was routed to late endosomes/lysosomes and caused a sequestration of cholesterol in these compartments. Similar results were seen in transgenic mice overexpressing PLP. With time, the endosomal/lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol and PLP led to an increase in the amount of detergent-insoluble cellular cholesterol and PLP. In addition, two fluorescent sphingolipids, BODIPY-lactosylceramide and -galactosylceramide, which under normal conditions are sorted to the Golgi apparatus, were missorted to perinuclear structures. This was also the case for the lipid raft marker glucosylphosphatidylinositol-yellow fluorescence protein, which under normal steady-state conditions is localized on the plasma membrane and to the Golgi complex. Taken together, we show that overexpression of PLP leads to the formation of endosomal/lysosomal accumulations of cholesterol and PLP, accompanied by the mistrafficking of raft components. We propose that these accumulations perturb the process of myelination and impair the viability of oligodendrocytes.

Rab coupling protein (RCP), a novel Rab4 and Rab11 effector protein

Rab4 and Rab11 are small GTPases belonging to the Ras superfamily. They both function as regulators along the receptor recycling pathway. We have identified a novel 80-kDa protein that interacts specifically with the GTP-bound conformation of Rab4, and subsequent work has shown that it also interacts strongly with Rab11. We name this protein Rab coupling protein (RCP). RCP is predominantly membrane-bound and is expressed in all cell lines and tissues tested. It colocalizes with early endosomal markers including Rab4 and Rab11 as well as with the transferrin receptor. Overexpression of the carboxyl-terminal region of RCP, which contains the Rab4- and Rab11-interacting domain, results in a dramatic tubulation of the transferrin compartment. Furthermore, expression of this mutant causes a significant reduction in endosomal recycling without affecting ligand uptake or degradation in quantitative assays. RCP is a homologue of Rip11 and therefore belongs to the recently described Rab11-FIP family.

Inhibition of intracellular cholesterol transport alters presenilin localization and amyloid precursor protein processing in neuronal cells

Generation of amyloid-beta (Abeta) from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) requires proteolytic cleavage by two proteases, beta- and gamma-secretase. Several lines of evidence suggest a role for cholesterol on secretase activities, although the responsible cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that alterations in cholesterol transport from late endocytic organelles to the endoplasmic reticulum have important consequences for both APP processing and the localization of gamma-secretase-associated presenilins (PS). Exposure of neuronal cells to cholesterol transport-inhibiting agents resulted in a marked decrease in beta-cleavage of full-length APP. In contrast, gamma-secretase activity on APP C-terminal fragments was enhanced, increasing the production of both Abeta40 and Abeta42. Remarkably, retention of cholesterol in endosomal/lysosomal compartments induced PS1 and PS2 to accumulate in Rab7-positive vesicular organelles implicated in cholesterol sorting. Accumulation of PS in vesicular compartments was prominent in both Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in Niemann-Pick C1 protein as well as in neuronal cells exposed to the cholesterol transport-inhibiting agent U18666A. Because Abeta42 also localized to PS1-containing vesicular compartments, organelles involved in cholesterol transport might represent an important site for gamma-secretase activity. Our results suggest that the subcellular distribution of cholesterol may be an important factor in how cholesterol alters Abeta production and the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Late endosome motility depends on lipids via the small GTPase Rab7

We report that lipids contribute to regulate the bidirectional motility of late endocytic compartments. Late endocytic vesicles loaded with cholesterol lose their dynamic properties, and become essentially immobile, including in cells from Niemann-Pick C patients. These vesicles then retain cytoplasmic dynein activity, but seem to be unable to acquire kinesin activity, eventually leading to paralysis. Our data suggest that this defect depends on the small GTPase Rab7, since the motility of vesicles loaded with cholesterol can be restored by the Rab7 inhibitory mutant N125I. Conversely, wild-type Rab7 overexpression mimics the effects of cholesterol on motility in control cells. Consistently, cholesterol accumulation increases the amounts of membrane-associated Rab7, and inhibits Rab7 membrane extraction by the guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor. Our observations thus indicate that cholesterol contributes to regulate the Rab7 cycle, and that Rab7 in turn controls the net movement of late endocytic elements. We conclude that motor functions can be regulated by the membrane lipid composition via the Rab7 cycle.

The small GTPase Rab22 interacts with EEA1 and controls endosomal membrane trafficking

Rab22a is a small GTPase that is expressed ubiquitously in mammalian tissues and displays the highest sequence homology to Rab5. In BHK-21 cells,overexpression of the wild-type Rab22a caused formation of abnormally large vacuole-like structures containing the early-endosomal antigen EEA1 but not Rab11, a marker of recycling endosomes or the late-endosomal/lysosomal markers LAMP-1 and lyso-bis-phosphatidic acid. In HeLa cells, overexpressed Rab22a was found on smaller EEA1-positive endosomes, but a portion of the protein was also found in the Golgi complex. Using the yeast two-hybrid system and a biochemical pull-down assay, the GTP-bound form of Rab22a was found to interact with the N-terminus of EEA1. In HeLa cells overexpressing Rab22a or its mutants affected in the GTPase cycle, no significant changes were observed in the uptake of Alexa-transferrin. However, the GTPase-deficient Rab22a Q64L mutant caused a redistribution of transferrin-positive endosomes to the leading edges of cells and a fragmentation of the Golgi complex. In BHK cells,the Q64L mutant caused the accumulation of a fluid phase marker,TRITC-dextran, and a lysosomal hydrolase, aspartylglucosaminidase, in abnormal vacuole-like structures that contained both early and late endosome markers. Both the wild-type Rab22a and the Q64L mutant were found to interfere with the degradation of EGF. These results suggest that Rab22a may regulate the dynamic interactions of endosomal compartments and it may be involved in the communication between the biosynthetic and early endocytic pathways.

Early endosomes, late endosomes, and lysosomes display distinct partitioning strategies of inheritance with similarities to Golgi-derived membranes

The pattern of inheritance of compartments of the endocytic pathway has been rarely reported, and the precise mechanism(s) are yet to be elucidated. We used antibodies reactive to early endosomes (anti-EEA1), late endosomes (anti-LBPA and anti-LAMP-1), lysosomes (anti-LAMP-1) and trans-Golgi network (TGN) (anti-GOLGA4) to examine the inheritance of these compartments in fixed human HEp-2 cells. Prior to entering M phase, these compartments display a perinuclear bias in their cytoplasmic distribution with areas of local accumulation juxtaposed to the centrosome. The location of these compartments during mitosis was examined relative to each other, the chromosomes, centrosomes and the microtubule network. During M phase early endosomes and TGN-derived compartments share overlapping subcellular distributions. A portion of these compartments display discernible clustering around the separated and migrating centrosomes in prophase. At metaphase these compartments co-localise with the mitotic spindle, are absent at the metaphase plate and do not overlay the astral microtubules. At anaphase these compartments are concentrated between shortening kinetochore microtubules and centrosomes. In addition, they appear distributed over the elongating polar microtubules in the body of the cell. From telophase and into cytokinesis these compartments concentrate around the minus ends of the constricted remnants of polar spindle microtubules and re-establish a prominent presence juxtaposed to the centrosome. In contrast, there is little evidence of movement of late endosomes and lysosomes with migrating centrosomes in prophase, and these compartments are excluded from the mitotic spindle at metaphase. However, by the end of telophase, the subcellular distribution of a portion of late endosomes and lysosomes share overlapping distributions with that of early endosomes. We conclude a portion of endosomal compartments and Golgi-derived membranes undergo ordered partitioning based on the centrosome and mitotic spindle.

SKD1 AAA ATPase-dependent endosomal transport is involved in autolysosome formation

Mouse SKD1 AAA ATPase is involved in the sorting and transport from endosomes; cells overexpressing a dominant-negative mutant, SKD1(E235Q) were defective in endosomal transport to both the plasma membranes and lysosomes (Yoshimori et al., 2000). In the present study, we demonstrated that overexpression of SKD1(E235Q) using an adenovirus delivery system caused a defect in autophagy-dependent bulk protein degradation. Morphological observations suggested that this inhibition of autophagy results from an impairment of autolysosome formation. SKD1(E235Q) overexpression also inhibited transport from endosomes to autophagosomes, an event normally occurring prior to fusion with lysosomes. These results indicate that SKD1-dependent endosomal membrane trafficking is required for formation of autolysosomes.