The Golgi apparatus: roles for distinct 'cis' and 'trans' compartments

Membrane and cytoplasmic proteins are transported in the same organelle complex during nematode spermatogenesis

During the development of pseudopodial spermatozoa of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, protein synthesis stops before differentiation is completed. Colloidal gold conjugates of monoclonal antibody SP56, which binds to the surface of spermatozoa, and TR20, which recognizes the major sperm cytoplasmic protein (MSP), were used to label thin sections of testes embedded in Lowicryl K4M in order to follow polypeptides from their synthesis early in spermatogenesis to their segregation to specific compartments of the mature cell. Both antigens are synthesized in primary spermatocytes and are assembled into a unique double organelle, the fibrous body-membranous organelle (FB-MO) complex. However, the antigens are localized in different regions of this FB-MO complex. As described in detail, the assembly of proteins into the FB-MO complex allows both membrane and cytoplasmic components to be concentrated in the spermatids after meiosis. Then, the stepwise disassembly of this transient structure ensures delivery of each component to its final destination in the mature spermatozoan: MSP filaments in the fibrous body depolymerize, releasing MSP into the cytoplasm and the membranous organelles fuse with the plasma membrane, delivering SP56 antigen to the surface.

Radioautographic characterization of successive compartments along the rough endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi pathway of collagen precursors in foot pad fibroblasts of [3H]proline-injected rats

Young rats given an intravenous injection of [3H]proline were killed at successive times from 4 to 80 min later. Fibroblasts from the front foot pad were radioautographed ; silver grains were counted over several of the organelles and the results were expressed as percent radiolabel per unit volume. These percentages reached a peak over rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae at 4 min, intermediate vesicles and tubules at 10 min, spherical distensions of cis-side Golgi saccules at 20 min, cylindrical distensions of trans-side saccules between 40 and 60 min, and secretory granules at 60 min. It is proposed that the succession of peaks corresponds to the migration pathway of collagen precursor proteins within fibroblasts; that is, the proteins synthesized in rough endoplasmic reticulum are delivered by intermediate vesicles and/or tubules to the spherical distensions of cis-side saccules, somehow pass from there to the cylindrical distensions of trans-side saccules and, finally, are carried by secretory granules to the extracellular space.