Structural characterization of Tip20p and Dsl1p, subunits of the Dsl1p vesicle tethering complex

Structures and mechanisms of vesicle coat components and multisubunit tethering complexes

Eukaryotic cells face a logistical challenge in ensuring prompt and precise delivery of vesicular cargo to specific organelles within the cell. Coat protein complexes select cargo and initiate vesicle formation, while multisubunit tethering complexes participate in the delivery of vesicles to target membranes. Understanding these macromolecular assemblies has greatly benefited from their structural characterization. Recent structural data highlight principles in coat recruitment and uncoating in both the endocytic and retrograde pathways, and studies on the architecture of tethering complexes provide a framework for how they might link vesicles to the respective acceptor compartments and the fusion machinery.

The DSL1 complex: the smallest but not the least CATCHR

The DSL1 complex is a conserved tethering complex at the endoplasmic reticulum that recognizes Golgi-derived COPI vesicles and hands them over to the fusion machinery. The DSL1 complex is the simplest tethering complex of the complexes associated with tethering containing helical rods (CATCHR) family. CATCHR tethering complexes play a role at compartments along the exocytic and endocytic pathways. In this review, different functions of the DSL1 complex are discussed, some open questions with the seemingly straightforward picture are pointed out and alternative functions of the DSL1 complex members are mentioned.

Myosin V transports secretory vesicles via a Rab GTPase cascade and interaction with the exocyst complex

Vesicle transport requires four steps: vesicle formation, movement, tethering, and fusion. In yeast, two Rab GTPases, Ypt31/32, are required for post-Golgi vesicle formation. A third Rab GTPase, Sec4, and the exocyst act in tethering and fusion of these vesicles. Vesicle production is coupled to transport via direct interaction between Ypt31/32 and the yeast myosin V, Myo2. Here we show that Myo2 interacts directly with Sec4 and the exocyst subunit Sec15. Disruption of these interactions results in compromised growth and the accumulation of secretory vesicles. We identified the Sec15-binding region on Myo2 and also identified residues on Sec15 required for interaction with Myo2. That Myo2 interacts with Sec15 uncovers additional roles for the exocyst as an adaptor for molecular motors and implies similar roles for structurally related tethering complexes. Moreover, these studies predict that for many pathways, molecular motors attach to vesicles prior to their formation and remain attached until fusion.

The crystal structure of a Munc13 C-terminal module exhibits a remarkable similarity to vesicle tethering factors

Unc13/Munc13s play a crucial function in neurotransmitter release through their MUN domain, which mediates the transition from the Syntaxin-1/Munc18-1 complex to the SNARE complex. The MUN domain was suggested to be related to tethering factors, but no MUN-domain structure is available to experimentally validate this notion and address key unresolved questions about the interactions and minimal structural unit required for Unc13/Munc13 function. Here we identify an autonomously folded module within the MUN domain (MUN-CD) and show that its crystal structure is remarkably similar to several tethering factors. We also show that the activity in promoting the Syntaxin-1/Munc18-1 to SNARE complex transition is strongly impaired in MUN-CD. These results show that MUN domains and tethering factors indeed belong to the same family and may have a common role in membrane trafficking. We propose a model whereby the MUN-CD module is central for Munc13 function but full activity requires adjacent sequences.

ER Import Sites and Their Relationship to ER Exit Sites: A New Model for Bidirectional ER-Golgi Transport in Higher Plants

Per definition, ER exit sites are COPII vesiculation events at the surface of the ER and in higher plants are only visualizable in the electron microscope through cryofixation techniques. Fluorescent COPII labeling moves with Golgi stacks and locates to the interface between the ER and the Golgi. In contrast, the domain of the ER where retrograde COPI vesicles fuse, i.e., ER import sites (ERIS), has remained unclear. To identify ERIS we have employed ER-located SNAREs and tethering factors. We screened several SNAREs (SYP81, the SYP7 family, and USE1) to find a SNARE whose overexpression did not disrupt ER-Golgi traffic and which gave rise to discrete fluorescent punctae when expressed with an XFP tag. Only the Qc-SNARE SYP72 fulfilled these criteria. When coexpressed with SYP72-YFP, both the type I-membrane protein RFP-p24δ5 and the luminal marker CFP-HDEL whose ER localization are due to an efficient COPI-mediated recycling, form nodules along the tubular ER network. SYP72-YFP colocalizes with these nodules which are not seen when RFP-p24δ5 or CFP-HDEL is expressed alone or when SYP72-YFP is coexpressed with a mutant form of RFP-p24δ5 that cannot exit the ER. SYP72-YFP does not colocalize with Golgi markers, except when the Golgi stacks are immobilized through actin depolymerization. Endogenous SYP7 SNAREs, also colocalize with immobilized COPII/Golgi. In contrast, XFP-tagged versions of plant homologs to TIP20 of the Dsl1 COPI-tethering factor complex, and the COPII-tethering factor p115 colocalize perfectly with Golgi stacks irrespective of the motile status. These data suggest that COPI vesicle fusion with the ER is restricted to periods when Golgi stacks are stationary, but that when moving both COPII and COPI vesicles are tethered and collect in the ER-Golgi interface. Thus, the Golgi stack and an associated domain of the ER thereby constitute a mobile secretory and recycling unit: a unique feature in eukaryotic cells.

Structure of Golgi transport proteins

The function of the Golgi has long been recognized to critically depend on vesicular transport from, to, and within its cisternae, involving constant membrane fission and fusion. These processes are mediated by Arf GTPases and coat proteins, and Rabs, tethers and SNARE proteins, respectively. In this article, we describe structural studies of Golgi coats and tethers and their interactions with SNAREs and GTPases as well as insights regarding membrane traffic processes that these have provided.

COPI budding within the Golgi stack

The Golgi serves as a hub for intracellular membrane traffic in the eukaryotic cell. Transport within the early secretory pathway, that is within the Golgi and from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum, is mediated by COPI-coated vesicles. The COPI coat shares structural features with the clathrin coat, but differs in the mechanisms of cargo sorting and vesicle formation. The small GTPase Arf1 initiates coating on activation and recruits en bloc the stable heptameric protein complex coatomer that resembles the inner and the outer shells of clathrin-coated vesicles. Different binding sites exist in coatomer for membrane machinery and for the sorting of various classes of cargo proteins. During the budding of a COPI vesicle, lipids are sorted to give a liquid-disordered phase composition. For the release of a COPI-coated vesicle, coatomer and Arf cooperate to mediate membrane separation.

Organization of SNAREs within the Golgi stack

Antero- and retrograde cargo transport through the Golgi requires a series of membrane fusion events. Fusion occurs at the cis- and trans-side and along the rims of the Golgi stack. Four functional SNARE complexes have been identified mediating lipid bilayer merger in the Golgi. Their function is tightly controlled by a series of reactions involving vesicle tethering and SM proteins. This network of protein interactions spatially and temporally determines the specificity of transport vesicle targeting and fusion within the Golgi.

The Dsl1 protein tethering complex is a resident endoplasmic reticulum complex, which interacts with five soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs): implications for fusion and fusion regulation

Retrograde vesicular transport from the Golgi to the ER requires the Dsl1 tethering complex, which consists of the three subunits Dsl1, Dsl3, and Tip20. It forms a stable complex with the SNAREs Ufe1, Use1, and Sec20 to mediate fusion of COPI vesicles with the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we analyze molecular interactions between five SNAREs of the ER (Ufe1, Use1, Sec20, Sec22, and Ykt6) and the Dsl1 complex in vitro and in vivo. Of the two R-SNAREs, Sec22 is preferred over Ykt6 in the Dsl-SNARE complex. The NSF homolog Sec18 can displace Ykt6 but not Sec22, suggesting a regulatory function for Ykt6. In addition, our data also reveal that subunits of the Dsl1 complex (Dsl1, Dsl3, and Tip20), as well as the SNAREs Ufe1 and Sec20, are ER-resident proteins that do not seem to move into COPII vesicles. Our data support a model, in which a tethering complex is stabilized at the organelle membrane by binding to SNAREs, recognizes the incoming vesicle via its coat and then promotes its SNARE-mediated fusion.

The Dsl1 tethering complex actively participates in soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly at the endoplasmic reticulum in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Intracellular transport is largely dependent on vesicles that bud off from one compartment and fuse with the target compartment. The first contact of an incoming vesicle with the target membrane is mediated by tethering factors. The tethering factor responsible for recruiting Golgi-derived vesicles to the ER is the Dsl1 tethering complex, which is comprised of the essential proteins Dsl1p, Dsl3p, and Tip20p. We investigated the role of the Tip20p subunit at the ER by analyzing two mutants, tip20-5 and tip20-8. Both mutants contained multiple mutations that were scattered throughout the TIP20 sequence. Individual mutations could not reproduce the temperature-sensitive phenotype of tip20-5 and tip20-8, indicating that the overall structure of Tip20p might be altered in the mutants. Using molecular dynamics simulations comparing Tip20p and Tip20-8p revealed that some regions, particularly the N-terminal domain and parts of the stalk region, were more flexible in the mutant protein, consistent with its increased susceptibility to proteolysis. Both Tip20-5p and Tip20-8p mutants prevented proper ER trans-SNARE complex assembly in vitro. Moreover, Tip20p mutant proteins disturbed the interaction between Dsl1p and the coatomer coat complex, indicating that the Dsl1p-coatomer interaction could be stabilized or regulated by Tip20p. We provide evidence for a direct role of the Dsl1 complex, in particular Tip20p, in the formation and stabilization of ER SNARE complexes.

Multisubunit tethering complexes and their role in membrane fusion

Protein trafficking within eukaryotic cells depends on vesicular carriers that fuse with organelles to deliver their lipid and protein content. Cells have developed an elaborate system to capture vesicles at organelles that involves the action of Rab GTPases and tethers. Vesicle fusion then takes place with the help of SNARE proteins. In this review we focus on the role of multisubunit tethering complexes of eukaryotic cells. In particular, we discuss the tethering complexes of the secretory pathway and the endolysosomal system and highlight recent evidence for the role of these complexes in interaction with Rabs, coat recognition and cooperation with SNAREs during the fusion cascade.

Role of Rab GTPases in membrane traffic and cell physiology

Intracellular membrane traffic defines a complex network of pathways that connects many of the membrane-bound organelles of eukaryotic cells. Although each pathway is governed by its own set of factors, they all contain Rab GTPases that serve as master regulators. In this review, we discuss how Rabs can regulate virtually all steps of membrane traffic from the formation of the transport vesicle at the donor membrane to its fusion at the target membrane. Some of the many regulatory functions performed by Rabs include interacting with diverse effector proteins that select cargo, promoting vesicle movement, and verifying the correct site of fusion. We describe cascade mechanisms that may define directionality in traffic and ensure that different Rabs do not overlap in the pathways that they regulate. Throughout this review we highlight how Rab dysfunction leads to a variety of disease states ranging from infectious diseases to cancer.

Cell polarity during motile processes: keeping on track with the exocyst complex

Motile processes are critical for several physiological and pathological situations such as embryonic development, tumour dissemination and metastasis. Migrating cells, or developing neurons, need to establish front–rear polarity consisting of actin-driven extension of the leading edge and traffic of components that are essential for membrane extension and cell adhesion at the front. Previously, several studies have suggested that the exocyst complex is critical for the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity. This octameric complex controls the docking and insertion of exocytic vesicles to growing areas of the plasma membrane. The aim of the present review is to detail recent advances concerning the molecular and structural organization of the exocyst complex that help to elucidate its role in cell polarity. We will also review the function of the exocyst complex and some of its key interacting partners [including the small GTP-binding protein Ral, aPKCs (atypical protein kinase Cs) and proteins involved in actin assembly] in the formation of plasma extensions at the leading edge, growth cone formation during axonal extension and generation of cell movement.

Transport according to GARP: receiving retrograde cargo at the trans-Golgi network

Tethering factors are large protein complexes that capture transport vesicles and enable their fusion with acceptor organelles at different stages of the endomembrane system. Recent studies have shed new light on the structure and function of a heterotetrameric tethering factor named Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP), which promotes fusion of endosome-derived, retrograde transport carriers to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). X-ray crystallography of the Vps53 and Vps54 subunits of GARP has revealed that this complex is structurally related to other tethering factors such as the exocyst, the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) and Dsl1 (dependence on SLY1-20) complexes, indicating that they all might work by a similar mechanism. Loss of GARP function compromises the growth, fertility and/or viability of the defective organisms, emphasizing the essential nature of GARP-mediated retrograde transport.

An update on transport vesicle tethering

Membrane trafficking involves the collection of cargo into nascent transport vesicles that bud off from a donor compartment, translocate along cytoskeletal tracks, and then dock and fuse with their target membranes. Docking and fusion involve initial interaction at a distance (tethering), followed by a closer interaction that leads to pairing of vesicle SNARE proteins (v-SNAREs) with target membrane SNAREs (t-SNAREs), thereby catalyzing vesicle fusion. When tethering cannot take place, transport vesicles accumulate in the cytoplasm. Tethering is generally carried out by two broad classes of molecules: extended, coiled-coil proteins such as the so-called Golgin proteins, or multi-subunit complexes such as the Exocyst, COG or Dsl complexes. This review will focus on the most recent advances in terms of our understanding of the mechanism by which tethers carry out their roles, and new structural insights into tethering complex transactions.

Molecular organization of the COG vesicle tethering complex

Multisubunit tethering complexes of the CATCHR (Complexes Associated with Tethering Containing Helical Rods) family are proposed to mediate the initial contact between an intracellular trafficking vesicle and its membrane target. To begin elucidating the molecular architecture of one well-studied example, the COG (conserved oligomeric Golgi) complex, we reconstituted its essential subunits (Cog1, Cog2, Cog3, and Cog4) and used single-particle electron microscopy to reveal a y-shaped structure with three flexible, highly extended legs. Labeling experiments established that the N-termini of all four subunits interact along the proximal segment of one leg, whereas three of the four C-termini are located at the tips of the legs. Our results suggest that the central region of the Cog1-4 complex, as well as the distal regions of at least two legs, all participate in interactions with other components of the intracellular trafficking machinery.

Structural analysis of the RZZ complex reveals common ancestry with multisubunit vesicle tethering machinery

The RZZ complex recruits dynein to kinetochores. We investigated structure, topology, and interactions of the RZZ subunits (ROD, ZWILCH, and ZW10) in vitro, in vivo, and in silico. We identify neuroblastoma-amplified gene (NAG), a ZW10 binder, as a ROD homolog. ROD and NAG contain an N-terminal beta propeller followed by an alpha solenoid, which is the architecture of certain nucleoporins and vesicle coat subunits, suggesting a distant evolutionary relationship. ZW10 binding to ROD and NAG is mutually exclusive. The resulting ZW10 complexes (RZZ and NRZ) respectively contain ZWILCH and RINT1 as additional subunits. The X-ray structure of ZWILCH, the first for an RZZ subunit, reveals a novel fold distinct from RINT1's. The evolutionarily conserved NRZ likely acts as a tethering complex for retrograde trafficking of COPI vesicles from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum. The RZZ, limited to metazoans, probably evolved from the NRZ, exploiting the dynein-binding capacity of ZW10 to direct dynein to kinetochores.

RZZ finds its ancestral roots

In this issue of Structure, Civril et al. (2010) describe an unexpected structural similarity between the kinetochore component Rod-Zw10-Zwilch (RZZ) and the vesicle transport component Nag-Rint1-Zw10 (NRZ).

New links between vesicle coats and Rab-mediated vesicle targeting

Vesicle trafficking is a highly regulated process that transports proteins and other cargoes through eukaryotic cells while maintaining cellular organization and compartmental identity. In order for cargo to reach the correct destination, each step of trafficking must impart specificity. During vesicle formation, this is achieved by coat proteins, which selectively incorporate cargo into the nascent vesicle. Classically, vesicle coats are thought to dissociate shortly after budding. However, recent studies suggest that coat proteins can remain on the vesicle en route to their destination, imparting targeting specificity by physically and functionally interacting with Rab-regulated tethering systems. This review focuses on how interactions among Rab GTPases, tethering factors, SNARE proteins, and vesicle coats contribute to vesicle targeting, fusion, and coat dynamics.

Structural basis for the wobbler mouse neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutation in the Vps54 subunit of the GARP complex

The multisubunit Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex is required for tethering and fusion of endosome-derived transport vesicles to the trans-Golgi network. Mutation of leucine-967 to glutamine in the Vps54 subunit of GARP is responsible for spinal muscular atrophy in the wobbler mouse, an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The crystal structure at 1.7 A resolution of the mouse Vps54 C-terminal fragment harboring leucine-967, in conjunction with comparative sequence analysis, reveals that Vps54 has a continuous alpha-helical bundle organization similar to that of other multisubunit tethering complexes. The structure shows that leucine-967 is buried within the alpha-helical bundle through predominantly hydrophobic interactions that are critical for domain stability and folding in vitro. Mutation of this residue to glutamine does not prevent integration of Vps54 into the GARP complex but greatly reduces the half-life and levels of the protein in vivo. Severely reduced levels of mutant Vps54 and, consequently, of the whole GARP complex underlie the phenotype of the wobbler mouse.

Structure and mechanism in membrane trafficking

Cell biologists have long been interested in understanding the machinery that mediates movement of proteins and lipids between intracellular compartments. Much of this traffic is accomplished by vesicles (or other membranous carriers) that bud from one compartment and fuse with another. Given the pivotal roles that large protein complexes play in vesicular trafficking, many recent advances have relied on the combined use of X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. Here, we discuss integrated structural studies of proteins whose assembly shapes membranes into vesicles and tubules, before turning to the so-called tethering factors that appear to orchestrate vesicle docking and fusion.

Dsl1p/Zw10: common mechanisms behind tethering vesicles and microtubules

Fusion of Golgi-derived COP (coat protein)-I vesicles with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is initiated by specific tethering complexes: the Dsl1 (depends on SLY1-20) complex in yeast and the syntaxin 18 complex in mammalian cells. Both tethering complexes are firmly associated with soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) at the ER. The structure of the Dsl1 tethering complex has been determined recently. The complex seems to be designed to expose an unstructured domain of Dsl1p at its top, which is required to capture vesicles. The subunit composition and the interactions within the equivalent mammalian complex are similar. Interestingly, some of the mammalian counterparts have additional functions during mitosis in animal cells. Zw10, the metazoan homolog of Dsl1p, is an important component of a complex that monitors the correct tethering of microtubules to kinetochores during cell division. This review brings together evidence to suggest that there could be common mechanisms behind these different activities, giving clues as to how they might have evolved.

Structure-function study of the N-terminal domain of exocyst subunit Sec3

The exocyst is an evolutionarily conserved octameric complex involved in polarized exocytosis from yeast to humans. The Sec3 subunit of the exocyst acts as a spatial landmark for exocytosis through its ability to bind phospholipids and small GTPases. The structure of the N-terminal domain of Sec3 (Sec3N) was determined ab initio and defines a new subclass of pleckstrin homology (PH) domains along with a new family of proteins carrying this domain. Respectively, N- and C-terminal to the PH domain Sec3N presents an additional alpha-helix and two beta-strands that mediate dimerization through domain swapping. The structure identifies residues responsible for phospholipid binding, which when mutated in cells impair the localization of exocyst components at the plasma membrane and lead to defects in exocytosis. Through its ability to bind the small GTPase Cdc42 and phospholipids, the PH domain of Sec3 functions as a coincidence detector at the plasma membrane.

Quantitative analysis of the native presynaptic cytomatrix by cryoelectron tomography

The filamentous structures that tether exocytic vesicles to the plasma membrane in the active zone are rearranged in response to synaptic stimulation.

The presynaptic terminal contains a complex network of filaments whose precise organization and functions are not yet understood. The cryoelectron tomography experiments reported in this study indicate that these structures play a prominent role in synaptic vesicle release. Docked synaptic vesicles did not make membrane to membrane contact with the active zone but were instead linked to it by tethers of different length. Our observations are consistent with an exocytosis model in which vesicles are first anchored by long (>5 nm) tethers that give way to multiple short tethers once vesicles enter the readily releasable pool. The formation of short tethers was inhibited by tetanus toxin, indicating that it depends on soluble N-ethyl-maleimide sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor complex assembly. Vesicles were extensively interlinked via a set of connectors that underwent profound rearrangements upon synaptic stimulation and okadaic acid treatment, suggesting a role of these connectors in synaptic vesicle mobilization and neurotransmitter release.

A structure-based mechanism for vesicle capture by the multisubunit tethering complex Dsl1

Vesicle trafficking requires membrane fusion, mediated by SNARE proteins, and upstream events that probably include "tethering," an initial long-range attachment between a vesicle and its target organelle. Among the factors proposed to mediate tethering are a set of multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs). The Dsl1 complex, with only three subunits, is the simplest known MTC and is essential for the retrograde traffic of COPI-coated vesicles from the Golgi to the ER. To elucidate structural principles underlying MTC function, we have determined the structure of the Dsl1 complex, revealing a tower containing at its base the binding sites for two ER SNAREs and at its tip a flexible lasso for capturing vesicles. The Dsl1 complex binds to individual SNAREs via their N-terminal regulatory domains and also to assembled SNARE complexes; moreover, it is capable of accelerating SNARE complex assembly. Our results suggest that even the simplest MTC may be capable of orchestrating vesicle capture, uncoating, and fusion.

Role of vesicle tethering factors in the ER-Golgi membrane traffic

Tethers are a diverse group of loosely related proteins and protein complexes grouped into three families based on structural and functional similarities. A well-accepted role for tethering factors is the initial attachment of transport carriers to acceptor membranes prior to fusion. However, accumulating evidence indicates that tethers are more than static bridges. Tethers have been shown to interact with components of the fusion machinery and with components involved in vesicle formation. Tethers belonging to the three families act at the same stage of traffic, suggesting that they mediate distinct events during vesicle tethering. Thus, multiple tether-facilitated events are required to provide selectivity to vesicle fusion. In this review, we highlight findings that support this model.

Structural basis for a human glycosylation disorder caused by mutation of the COG4 gene

The proper glycosylation of proteins trafficking through the Golgi apparatus depends upon the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex. Defects in COG can cause fatal congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) in humans. The recent discovery of a form of CDG, caused in part by a COG4 missense mutation changing Arg 729 to Trp, prompted us to determine the 1.9 A crystal structure of a Cog4 C-terminal fragment. Arg 729 is found to occupy a key position at the center of a salt bridge network, thereby stabilizing Cog4's small C-terminal domain. Studies in HeLa cells reveal that this C-terminal domain, while not needed for the incorporation of Cog4 into COG complexes, is essential for the proper glycosylation of cell surface proteins. We also find that Cog4 bears a strong structural resemblance to exocyst and Dsl1p complex subunits. These complexes and others have been proposed to function by mediating the initial tethering between transport vesicles and their membrane targets; the emerging structural similarities provide strong evidence of a common evolutionary origin and may reflect shared mechanisms of action.

Remote homology between Munc13 MUN domain and vesicle tethering complexes

Most core components of the neurotransmitter release machinery have homologues in other types of intracellular membrane traffic, likely underlying a universal mechanism of intracellular membrane fusion. However, no clear similarity between Munc13s and protein families generally involved in membrane traffic has been reported, despite the essential nature of Munc13s for neurotransmitter release. This crucial function was ascribed to a minimal Munc13 region called the MUN domain, which likely participates in soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex (SNARE) assembly and is also found in Ca(2+)-dependent activator protein for secretion. We have now used comparative sequence and structural analyses to study the structure and evolutionary origin of the MUN domain. We found weak yet significant sequence similarities between the MUN domain and a set of protein subunits from several related vesicle tethering complexes, such as Sec6 from the exocyst complex and Vps53 from the Golgi-associated retrograde protein complex. Such an evolutionary relationship allows structure prediction of the MUN domain and suggests functional similarities between MUN domain-containing proteins and multisubunit tethering complexes such as exocyst, conserved oligomeric Golgi complex, Golgi-associated retrograde protein complex, and Dsl1p. These findings further unify the mechanism of neurotransmitter release with those of other types of intracellular membrane traffic and, in turn, support a role for tethering complexes in soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex assembly.

Endoplasmic reticulum-associated secretory proteins Sec20p, Sec39p, and Dsl1p are involved in peroxisome biogenesis

Two pathways have been identified for peroxisome formation: (i) growth and division and (ii) de novo synthesis. Recent experiments determined that peroxisomes originate at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although many proteins have been implicated in the peroxisome biogenic program, no proteins in the eukaryotic secretory pathway have been identified as having roles in peroxisome formation. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae regulatable Tet promoter Hughes clone collection, we found that repression of the ER-associated secretory proteins Sec20p and Sec39p resulted in mislocalization of the peroxisomal matrix protein chimera Pot1p-green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the cytosol. Likewise, the peroxisomal membrane protein chimera Pex3p-GFP localized to tubular-vesicular structures in cells suppressed for Sec20p, Sec39p, and Dsl1p, which form a complex at the ER. Loss of Sec39p attenuated formation of Pex3p-derived peroxisomal structures following galactose induction of Pex3p-GFP expression from the GAL1 promoter. Expression of Sec20p, Sec39p, and Dsl1p was moderately increased in yeast grown under conditions that proliferate peroxisomes, and Sec20p, Sec39p, and Dsl1p were found to cofractionate with peroxisomes and colocalize with Pex3p-monomeric red fluorescent protein under these conditions. Our results show that SEC20, SEC39, and DSL1 are essential secretory genes involved in the early stages of peroxisome assembly, and this work is the first to identify and characterize an ER-associated secretory machinery involved in peroxisome biogenesis.

Tip20p reaches out to Dsl1p to tether membranes

Large, mutisubunit complexes have been implicated in tethering transport vesicles to organelle membranes prior to membrane fusion. New structures add to the growing list of tethering complexes that contain conserved helical bundle structures, and provide a first glimpse of how these complexes are assembled.