The Sec7 Arf-GEF is recruited to the trans-Golgi network by positive feedback

Regulation of yeast polarized exocytosis by phosphoinositide lipids

Phosphoinositides help steer membrane trafficking routes within eukaryotic cells. In polarized exocytosis, which targets vesicular cargo to sites of polarized growth at the plasma membrane (PM), the two phosphoinositides phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) and its derivative phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) pave the pathway for vesicle transport from the Golgi to the PM. PI4P is a critical regulator of mechanisms that shape late Golgi membranes for vesicle biogenesis and release. Although enriched in vesicle membranes, PI4P is inexplicably removed from post-Golgi vesicles during their transit to the PM, which drives subsequent steps in exocytosis. At the PM, PI(4,5)P2 recruits effectors that establish polarized membrane sites for targeting the vesicular delivery of secretory cargo. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides an elegant model to unravel the complexities of phosphoinositide regulation during polarized exocytosis. Here, we review how PI4P and PI(4,5)P2 promote yeast vesicle biogenesis, exocyst complex assembly and vesicle docking at polarized cortical sites, and suggest how these steps might impact related mechanisms of human disease.

Spatiotemporal dissection of the Golgi apparatus and the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment in budding yeast

Cargo traffic through the Golgi apparatus is mediated by cisternal maturation, but it remains largely unclear how the cis-cisternae, the earliest Golgi sub-compartment, is generated and how the Golgi matures into the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Here, we use high-speed and high-resolution confocal microscopy to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of a diverse set of proteins that reside in and around the Golgi in budding yeast. We find many mobile punctate structures that harbor yeast counterparts of mammalian endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) proteins, which we term 'yeast ERGIC'. It occasionally exhibits approach and contact behavior toward the ER exit sites and gradually matures into the cis-Golgi. Upon treatment with the Golgi-disrupting agent brefeldin A, the ERGIC proteins form larger aggregates corresponding to the Golgi entry core compartment in plants, while cis- and medial-Golgi proteins are absorbed into the ER. We further analyze the dynamics of several late Golgi proteins to better understand the Golgi-TGN transition. Together with our previous studies, we demonstrate a detailed spatiotemporal profile of the entire cisternal maturation process from the ERGIC to the Golgi and further to the TGN.

Sec7 regulatory domains scaffold autoinhibited and active conformations

The late stages of Golgi maturation involve a series of sequential trafficking events in which cargo-laden vesicles are produced and targeted to multiple distinct subcellular destinations. Each of these vesicle biogenesis events requires activation of an Arf GTPase by the Sec7/BIG guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). Sec7 localization and activity is regulated by autoinhibition, positive feedback, and interaction with other GTPases. Although these mechanisms have been characterized biochemically, we lack a clear picture of how GEF localization and activity is modulated by these signals. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of full-length Sec7 in its autoinhibited form, revealing the architecture of its multiple regulatory domains. We use functional experiments to determine the basis for autoinhibition and use structural predictions to produce a model for an active conformation of the GEF that is supported empirically. This study therefore elucidates the conformational transition that Sec7 undergoes to become active on the organelle membrane surface.

Developmental patterning function of GNOM ARF-GEF mediated from the cell periphery

The GNOM (GN) Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor for ARF small GTPases (ARF-GEF) is among the best studied trafficking regulators in plants, playing crucial and unique developmental roles in patterning and polarity. The current models place GN at the Golgi apparatus (GA), where it mediates secretion/recycling, and at the plasma membrane (PM) presumably contributing to clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). The mechanistic basis of the developmental function of GN, distinct from the other ARF-GEFs including its closest homologue GNOM-LIKE1 (GNL1), remains elusive. Insights from this study largely extend the current notions of GN function. We show that GN, but not GNL1, localizes to the cell periphery at long-lived structures distinct from clathrin-coated pits, while CME and secretion proceed normally in gn knockouts. The functional GN mutant variant GNfewerroots, absent from the GA, suggests that the cell periphery is the major site of GN action responsible for its developmental function. Following inhibition by Brefeldin A, GN, but not GNL1, relocates to the PM likely on exocytic vesicles, suggesting selective molecular associations en route to the cell periphery. A study of GN-GNL1 chimeric ARF-GEFs indicates that all GN domains contribute to the specific GN function in a partially redundant manner. Together, this study offers significant steps toward the elucidation of the mechanism underlying unique cellular and development functions of GNOM.

The Abl-interactor Abi suppresses the function of the BRAG2 GEF family member Schizo

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF) of the BRAG subfamily activate small Arf GTPases, which are pivotal regulators of intracellular membrane traffic and actin dynamics. Consequently, BRAG proteins have been implicated to regulate the surface levels of adhesive and signaling receptors. However, not much is known about the mechanism leading to the regulation of these surface proteins. In this study, we found that the Drosophila BRAG GEF Schizo interacts physically with the Abl-interactor (Abi). schizo mutants display severe defects in myoblast fusion during syncytial muscle formation and show increased amounts of the cell adhesion protein N-cadherin. We demonstrate that the schizo myoblast fusion phenotype can be rescued by the expression of the Schizo GEF (Sec7) and membrane-binding (pleckstrin homology) domain. Furthermore, the expression of the Sec7-PH domain in a wild-type background decreases the amounts of N-cadherin and impairs myoblast fusion. These findings support the notion that the Sec7-PH domain serves as a constitutive-active form of Schizo. Using a yeast-two hybrid assay, we show that the SH3 domain of Abi interacts with the N-terminal region of Schizo. This region is also able to bind to the cytodomain of the cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin. To shed light on the function of Schizo and Abi in N-cadherin removal, we employed epistasis experiments in different developmental contexts of Drosophila. These studies point towards a new model for the regulation of Schizo. We propose that the binding of Abi to the N-terminal part of Schizo antagonizes Schizo function to inhibit N-cadherin removal.

Sec7 regulatory domains scaffold autoinhibited and active conformations

The late stages of Golgi maturation involve a series of sequential trafficking events in which cargo-laden vesicles are produced and targeted to multiple distinct subcellular destinations. Each of these vesicle biogenesis events requires activation of an Arf GTPase by the Sec7/BIG guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). Sec7 localization and activity is regulated by autoinhibition, positive feedback, and interaction with other GTPases. Although these mechanisms have been characterized biochemically, we lack a clear picture of how GEF localization and activity is modulated by these signals. Here we report the cryoEM structure of full-length Sec7 in its autoinhibited form, revealing the architecture of its multiple regulatory domains. We use functional experiments to determine the basis for autoinhibition and use structural predictions to produce a model for an active conformation of the GEF that is supported empirically. This study therefore elucidates the conformational transition that Sec7 undergoes to become active on the organelle membrane surface.

The Arf-GAP Age2 localizes to the late-Golgi via a conserved amphipathic helix

Arf GTPases are central regulators of the Golgi complex, which serves as the nexus of membrane-trafficking pathways in eukaryotic cells. Arf proteins recruit dozens of effectors to modify membranes, sort cargos, and create and tether transport vesicles, and are therefore essential for orchestrating Golgi trafficking. The regulation of Arf activity is controlled by the action of Arf-GEFs which activate via nucleotide exchange, and Arf-GAPs which inactivate via nucleotide hydrolysis. The localization dynamics of Arf GTPases and their Arf-GAPs during Golgi maturation have not been reported. Here we use the budding yeast model to examine the temporal localization of the Golgi Arf-GAPs. We also determine the mechanisms used by the Arf-GAP Age2 to localize to the Golgi. We find that the catalytic activity of Age2 and a conserved sequence in the unstructured C-terminal domain of Age2 are both required for Golgi localization. This sequence is predicted to form an amphipathic helix and mediates direct binding of Age2 to membranes in vitro. We also report the development of a probe for sensing active Arf1 in living cells and use this probe to characterize the temporal dynamics of Arf1 during Golgi maturation.

Distinct role of TGN-resident clathrin adaptors for Vps21p activation in the TGN-endosome trafficking pathway

Clathrin-mediated vesicle trafficking plays central roles in post-Golgi transport. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the AP-1 complex and GGA adaptors are predicted to generate distinct transport vesicles at the trans-Golgi network (TGN), and the epsin-related proteins Ent3p and Ent5p (collectively Ent3p/5p) act as accessories for these adaptors. Recently, we showed that vesicle transport from the TGN is crucial for yeast Rab5 (Vps21p)-mediated endosome formation, and that Ent3p/5p are crucial for this process, whereas AP-1 and GGA adaptors are dispensable. However, these observations were incompatible with previous studies showing that these adaptors are required for Ent3p/5p recruitment to the TGN, and thus the overall mechanism responsible for regulation of Vps21p activity remains ambiguous. Here, we investigated the functional relationships between clathrin adaptors in post-Golgi-mediated Vps21p activation. We show that AP-1 disruption in the ent3Δ5Δ mutant impaired transport of the Vps21p guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vps9p transport to the Vps21p compartment and severely reduced Vps21p activity. Additionally, GGA adaptors, the phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase Pik1p and Rab11 GTPases Ypt31p and Ypt32p were found to have partially overlapping functions for recruitment of AP-1 and Ent3p/5p to the TGN. These findings suggest a distinct role of clathrin adaptors for Vps21p activation in the TGN-endosome trafficking pathway.

The Arf-GAP Age2 localizes to the late-Golgi via a conserved amphipathic helix

Arf GTPases are central regulators of the Golgi complex, which serves as the nexus of membrane trafficking pathways in eukaryotic cells. Arf proteins recruit dozens of effectors to modify membranes, sort cargos, and create and tether transport vesicles, and are therefore essential for orchestrating Golgi trafficking. The regulation of Arf activity is controlled by the action of Arf-GEFs, which activate via nucleotide exchange, and Arf-GAPs, which inactivate via nucleotide hydrolysis. The localization dynamics of Arf GTPases and their Arf-GAPs during Golgi maturation have not been reported. Here we use the budding yeast model to examine the temporal localization of the Golgi Arf-GAPs. We also determine the mechanisms used by the Arf-GAP Age2 to localize to the Golgi. We find that the catalytic activity of Age2 and a conserved sequence in the unstructured C-terminal domain of Age2 are both required for Golgi localization. This sequence is predicted to form an amphipathic helix and mediates direct binding of Age2 to membranes in vitro . We also report the development of a probe for sensing active Arf1 in living cells and use this probe to characterize the temporal dynamics of Arf1 during Golgi maturation.

The Uso1 globular head interacts with SNAREs to maintain viability even in the absence of the coiled-coil domain

Uso1/p115 and RAB1 tether ER-derived vesicles to the Golgi. Uso1/p115 contains a globular-head-domain (GHD), a coiled-coil (CC) mediating dimerization/tethering, and a C-terminal region (CTR) interacting with golgins. Uso1/p115 is recruited to vesicles by RAB1. Genetic studies placed Uso1 paradoxically acting upstream of, or in conjunction with RAB1 (Sapperstein et al., 1996). We selected two missense mutations in uso1 resulting in E6K and G540S in the GHD that rescued lethality of rab1-deficient Aspergillus nidulans. The mutations are phenotypically additive, their combination suppressing the complete absence of RAB1, which emphasizes the key physiological role of the GHD. In living hyphae Uso1 recurs on puncta (60 s half-life) colocalizing partially with the Golgi markers RAB1, Sed5, and GeaA/Gea1/Gea2, and totally with the retrograde cargo receptor Rer1, consistent with Uso1 dwelling in a very early Golgi compartment from which ER residents reaching the Golgi recycle back to the ER. Localization of Uso1, but not of Uso1E6K/G540S, to puncta is abolished by compromising RAB1 function, indicating that E6K/G540S creates interactions bypassing RAB1. That Uso1 delocalization correlates with a decrease in the number of Gea1 cisternae supports that Uso1-and-Rer1-containing puncta are where the protein exerts its physiological role. In S-tag-coprecipitation experiments, Uso1 is an associate of the Sed5/Bos1/Bet1/Sec22 SNARE complex zippering vesicles with the Golgi, with Uso1E6K/G540S showing a stronger association. Using purified proteins, we show that Bos1 and Bet1 bind the Uso1 GHD directly. However, Bet1 is a strong E6K/G540S-independent binder, whereas Bos1 is weaker but becomes as strong as Bet1 when the GHD carries E6K/G540S. G540S alone markedly increases GHD binding to Bos1, whereas E6K causes a weaker effect, correlating with their phenotypic contributions. AlphaFold2 predicts that G540S increases the binding of the GHD to the Bos1 Habc domain. In contrast, E6K lies in an N-terminal, potentially alpha-helical, region that sensitive genetic tests indicate as required for full Uso1 function. Remarkably, this region is at the end of the GHD basket opposite to the end predicted to interact with Bos1. We show that, unlike dimeric full-length and CTR∆ Uso1 proteins, the GHD lacking the CC/CTR dimerization domain, whether originating from bacteria or Aspergillus extracts and irrespective of whether it carries or not E6K/G540S, would appear to be monomeric. With the finding that overexpression of E6K/G540S and wild-type GHD complement uso1∆, our data indicate that the GHD monomer is capable of providing, at least partially, the essential Uso1 functions, and that long-range tethering activity is dispensable. Rather, these findings strongly suggest that the essential role of Uso1 involves the regulation of SNAREs.

Kinetics of Arf1 inactivation regulates Golgi organisation and function in non-adherent fibroblasts

Arf1 belongs to the Arf family of small GTPases that localise at the Golgi and plasma membrane. Active Arf1 plays a crucial role in regulating Golgi organisation and function. In mouse fibroblasts, loss of adhesion triggers a consistent drop (∼50%) in Arf1 activation that causes the Golgi to disorganise but not fragment. In suspended cells, the trans-Golgi (GalTase) disperses more prominently than cis-Golgi (Man II), accompanied by increased active Arf1 (detected using GFP-ABD: ARHGAP10 Arf1 binding domain) associated with the cis-Golgi compartment. Re-adhesion restores Arf1 activation at the trans-Golgi as it reorganises. Arf1 activation at the Golgi is regulated by Arf1 Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GBF1, and BIG1/2. In non-adherent fibroblasts, the cis-medial Golgi provides a unique setting to test and understand the role GEF-mediated Arf1 activation has in regulating Golgi organisation. Labelled with Man II-GFP, non-adherent fibroblasts treated with increasing concentrations of Brefeldin-A (BFA) (which inhibits BIG1/2 and GBF1) or Golgicide A (GCA) (which inhibits GBF1 only) comparably decrease active Arf1 levels. They, however, cause a concentration-dependent increase in cis-medial Golgi fragmentation and fusion with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using selected BFA and GCA concentrations, we find a change in the kinetics of Arf1 inactivation could mediate this by regulating cis-medial Golgi localisation of GBF1. On loss of adhesion, a ∼50% drop in Arf1 activation over 120 min causes the Golgi to disorganise. The kinetics of this drop, when altered by BFA or GCA treatment causes a similar decline in Arf1 activation but over 10 min. This causes the Golgi to now fragment which affects cell surface glycosylation and re-adherent cell spreading. Using non-adherent fibroblasts this study reveals the kinetics of Arf1 inactivation, with active Arf1 levels, to be vital for Golgi organisation and function.

Molecular principles of bidirectional signalling between membranes and small GTPases

Most small GTPases actuate their functions on subcellular membranes, which are increasingly seen as integral components of small GTPase signalling. In this review, we used the highly studied regulation of Arf GTPases by their GEFs to categorize the molecular principles of membrane contributions to small GTPase signalling, which have been highlighted by integrated structural biology combining in vitro reconstitutions in artificial membranes and high-resolution structures. As an illustration of how this framework can be harnessed to better understand the cooperation between small GTPases, their regulators and membranes, we applied it to the activation of the small GTPase Rac1 by DOCK-ELMO, identifying novel contributions of membranes to Rac1 activation. We propose that these structure-based principles should be considered when interrogating the mechanisms whereby small GTPase systems ensure spatial and temporal control of cellular signalling on membranes.

In vitro reconstitution of small GTPase regulation

Small GTPases play essential roles in the organization of eukaryotic cells. In recent years, it has become clear that their intracellular functions result from intricate biochemical networks of the GTPase and their regulators that dynamically bind to a membrane surface. Due to the inherent complexities of their interactions, however, revealing the underlying mechanisms of action is often difficult to achieve from in vivo studies. This review summarizes in vitro reconstitution approaches developed to obtain a better mechanistic understanding of how small GTPase activities are regulated in space and time.

Structural basis for activation of Arf1 at the Golgi complex

The Golgi complex is the central sorting station of the eukaryotic secretory pathway. Traffic through the Golgi requires activation of Arf guanosine triphosphatases that orchestrate cargo sorting and vesicle formation by recruiting an array of effector proteins. Arf activation and Golgi membrane association is controlled by large guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) possessing multiple conserved regulatory domains. Here we present cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) structures of full-length Gea2, the yeast paralog of the human Arf-GEF GBF1, that reveal the organization of these regulatory domains and explain how Gea2 binds to the Golgi membrane surface. We find that the GEF domain adopts two different conformations compatible with different stages of the Arf activation reaction. The structure of a Gea2-Arf1 activation intermediate suggests that the movement of the GEF domain primes Arf1 for membrane insertion upon guanosine triphosphate binding. We propose that conformational switching of Gea2 during the nucleotide exchange reaction promotes membrane insertion of Arf1.

Arf1 is a GTPase that regulates Golgi trafficking by recruiting many effector proteins. Muccini et al. report cryoEM structures of the Arf1 activator Gea2, capturing Gea2 in multiple conformational states including a Gea2-Arf1 activation intermediate. The structures help explain how Gea2 activates Arf1 on the Golgi membrane surface.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor Family of Small GTP-Binding Proteins: Their Membrane Recruitment, Activation, Crosstalk and Functions

Members of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family of guanine-nucleotide binding proteins play critical roles in various cellular processes, especially in regulating the secretory, and endocytic pathways. The fidelity of intracellular vesicular trafficking depends on proper activations and precise subcellular distributions of ARF family proteins regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Here we review recent progress in understanding the membrane recruitment, activation, crosstalk, and functions of ARF family proteins.

Phosphoinositides containing stearic acid are required for interaction between Rho GTPases and the exocyst to control the late steps of polarised exocytosis

Cell polarity is achieved by regulators such as small G proteins, exocyst members and phosphoinositides, with the latter playing a key role when bound to the exocyst proteins Sec3p and Exo70p, and Rho GTPases. This ensures asymmetric growth via the routing of proteins and lipids to the cell surface using actin cables. Previously, using a yeast mutant for a lysophosphatidylinositol acyl transferase encoded by the PSI1 gene, we demonstrated the role of stearic acid in the acyl chain of phosphoinositides in cytoskeletal organisation and secretion. Here, we use a genetic approach to characterise the effect on late steps of the secretory pathway. The constitutive overexpression of PSI1 in mutants affecting kinases involved in the phosphoinositide pathway demonstrated the role of molecular species containing stearic acid in bypassing a lack of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate PI(4)P at the plasma membrane, which is essential for the function of the Cdc42p module. Decreasing the levels of stearic acid-containing phosphoinositides modifies the environment of the actors involved in the control of late steps in the secretory pathway. This leads to decreased interactions between Exo70p and Sec3p, with Cdc42p, Rho1p and Rho3p, due to disruption of the GTP/GDP ratio of at least Rho1p and Rho3p GTPases, thereby preventing activation of the exocyst.

Src activates retrograde membrane traffic through phosphorylation of GBF1

The Src tyrosine kinase controls cancer-critical protein glycosylation through Golgi to ER relocation of GALNTs enzymes. How Src induces this trafficking event is unknown. Golgi to ER transport depends on the GTP exchange factor (GEF) GBF1 and small GTPase Arf1. Here, we show that Src induces the formation of tubular transport carriers containing GALNTs. The kinase phosphorylates GBF1 on 10 tyrosine residues; two of them, Y876 and Y898, are located near the C-terminus of the Sec7 GEF domain. Their phosphorylation promotes GBF1 binding to the GTPase; molecular modeling suggests partial melting of the Sec7 domain and intramolecular rearrangement. GBF1 mutants defective for these rearrangements prevent binding, carrier formation, and GALNTs relocation, while phosphomimetic GBF1 mutants induce tubules. In sum, Src promotes GALNTs relocation by promoting GBF1 binding to Arf1. Based on residue conservation, similar regulation of GEF-Arf complexes by tyrosine phosphorylation could be a conserved and widespread mechanism.

The GTPase Arf1 Is a Determinant of Yeast Vps13 Localization to the Golgi Apparatus

VPS13 proteins are evolutionarily conserved. Mutations in the four human genes (VPS13A-D) encoding VPS13A-D proteins are linked to developmental or neurodegenerative diseases. The relationship between the specific localization of individual VPS13 proteins, their molecular functions, and the pathology of these diseases is unknown. Here we used a yeast model to establish the determinants of Vps13's interaction with the membranes of Golgi apparatus. We analyzed the different phenotypes of the arf1-3 arf2Δ vps13∆ strain, with reduced activity of the Arf1 GTPase, the master regulator of Golgi function and entirely devoid of Vps13. Our analysis led us to propose that Vps13 and Arf1 proteins cooperate at the Golgi apparatus. We showed that Vps13 binds to the Arf1 GTPase through its C-terminal Pleckstrin homology (PH)-like domain. This domain also interacts with phosphoinositol 4,5-bisphosphate as it was bound to liposomes enriched with this lipid. The homologous domain of VPS13A exhibited the same behavior. Furthermore, a fusion of the PH-like domain of Vps13 to green fluorescent protein was localized to Golgi structures in an Arf1-dependent manner. These results suggest that the PH-like domains and Arf1 are determinants of the localization of VPS13 proteins to the Golgi apparatus in yeast and humans.

Flexible open conformation of the AP-3 complex explains its role in cargo recruitment at the Golgi

Vesicle formation at endomembranes requires the selective concentration of cargo by coat proteins. Conserved adapter protein complexes at the Golgi (AP-3), the endosome (AP-1), or the plasma membrane (AP-2) with their conserved core domain and flexible ear domains mediate this function. These complexes also rely on the small GTPase Arf1 and/or specific phosphoinositides for membrane binding. The structural details that influence these processes, however, are still poorly understood. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the full-length stable 300 kDa yeast AP-3 complex. The structures reveal that AP-3 adopts an open conformation in solution, comparable to the membrane-bound conformations of AP-1 or AP-2. This open conformation appears to be far more flexible than AP-1 or AP-2, resulting in compact, intermediate, and stretched subconformations. Mass spectrometrical analysis of the cross-linked AP-3 complex further indicates that the ear domains are flexibly attached to the surface of the complex. Using biochemical reconstitution assays, we also show that efficient AP-3 recruitment to the membrane depends primarily on cargo binding. Once bound to cargo, AP-3 clustered and immobilized cargo molecules, as revealed by single-molecule imaging on polymer-supported membranes. We conclude that its flexible open state may enable AP-3 to bind and collect cargo at the Golgi and could thus allow coordinated vesicle formation at the trans-Golgi upon Arf1 activation.

Who's in control? Principles of Rab GTPase activation in endolysosomal membrane trafficking and beyond

The eukaryotic endomembrane system consists of multiple interconnected organelles. Rab GTPases are organelle-specific markers that give identity to these membranes by recruiting transport and trafficking proteins. During transport processes or along organelle maturation, one Rab is replaced by another, a process termed Rab cascade, which requires at its center a Rab-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). The endolysosomal system serves here as a prime example for a Rab cascade. Along with endosomal maturation, the endosomal Rab5 recruits and activates the Rab7-specific GEF Mon1-Ccz1, resulting in Rab7 activation on endosomes and subsequent fusion of endosomes with lysosomes. In this review, we focus on the current idea of Mon1-Ccz1 recruitment and activation in the endolysosomal and autophagic pathway. We compare identified principles to other GTPase cascades on endomembranes, highlight the importance of regulation, and evaluate in this context the strength and relevance of recent developments in in vitro analyses to understand the underlying foundation of organelle biogenesis and maturation.

Exomer complex regulates protein traffic at the TGN through differential interactions with cargos and clathrin adaptor complexes

Protein sorting at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) usually requires the assistance of cargo adaptors. However, it remains to be examined how the same complex can mediate both the export and retention of different proteins or how sorting complexes interact among themselves. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the exomer complex is involved in the polarized transport of some proteins from the TGN to the plasma membrane (PM). Intriguingly, exomer and its cargos also show a sort of functional relationship with TGN clathrin adaptors that is still unsolved. Here, using a wide range of techniques, including time-lapse and BIFC microscopy, we describe new molecular implications of the exomer complex in protein sorting and address its different layers of functional interaction with clathrin adaptor complexes. Exomer mutants show impaired amino acid uptake because it facilitates not only the polarized delivery of amino acid permeases to the PM but also participates in their endosomal traffic. We propose a model for exomer where it modulates the recruitment of TGN clathrin adaptors directly or indirectly through the Arf1 function. Moreover, we describe an in vivo competitive relationship between the exomer and AP-1 complexes for the model cargo Chs3. These results highlight a broad role for exomer in regulating protein sorting at the TGN that is complementary to its role as cargo adaptor and present a model to understand the complexity of TGN protein sorting.

Arf1 orchestrates Rab GTPase conversion at the trans-Golgi network

Rab family GTPases are key organizers of membrane trafficking and function as markers of organelle identity. Accordingly, Rab GTPases often occupy specific membrane domains, and mechanisms exist to prevent the inappropriate mixing of distinct Rab domains. The yeast Golgi complex can be divided into two broad Rab domains: Ypt1 (Rab1) and Ypt6 (Rab6) are present at the early/medial Golgi and sharply transition to Ypt31/32 (Rab11) at the late Golgi/trans-Golgi network (TGN). This Rab conversion has been attributed to GTPase-activating protein (GAP) cascades in which Ypt31/32 recruits the Rab-GAPs Gyp1 and Gyp6 to inactivate Ypt1 and Ypt6, respectively. Here we report that Rab transition at the TGN involves additional layers of regulation. We provide new evidence confirming the TRAPPII complex as an important regulator of Ypt6 inactivation and uncover an unexpected role of the Arf1 GTPase in recruiting Gyp1 to drive Ypt1 inactivation at the TGN. Given its established role in directly recruiting TRAPPII to the TGN, Arf1 is therefore a master regulator of Rab conversion on maturing Golgi compartments.

The p24 Complex Contributes to Specify Arf1 for COPI Coat Selection

Golgi trafficking depends on the small GTPase Arf1 which, upon activation, drives the assembly of different coats onto budding vesicles. Two related types of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate Arf1 at different Golgi sites. In yeast, Gea1 in the cis-Golgi and Gea2 in the medial-Golgi activate Arf1 to form COPI­coated vesicles for retrograde cargo sorting, whereas Sec7 generates clathrin/adaptor­coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) for forward cargo transport. A central question is how the same activated Arf1 protein manages to assemble different coats depending on the donor Golgi compartment. A previous study has postulated that the interaction between Gea1 and COPI would channel Arf1 activation for COPI vesicle budding. Here, we found that the p24 complex, a major COPI vesicle cargo, promotes the binding of Gea1 with COPI by increasing the COPI association to the membrane independently of Arf1 activation. Furthermore, the p24 complex also facilitates the interaction of Arf1 with its COPI effector. Therefore, our study supports a mechanism by which the p24 complex contributes to program Arf1 activation by Gea1 for selective COPI coat assembly at the cis-Golgi compartment.

The ins and outs of the Arf4-based ciliary membrane-targeting complex

The small GTPase Arf4-based ciliary membrane-targeting complex recognizes specific targeting signals within sensory receptors and regulates their directed movement to primary cilia. Activated Arf4 directly binds the VxPx ciliary-targeting signal (CTS) of the light-sensing receptor rhodopsin. Recent findings revealed that at the trans-Golgi, marked by the small GTPase Rab6, activated Arf4 forms a functional complex with rhodopsin and the Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) GBF1, providing positive feedback that drives further Arf4 activation in ciliary trafficking. Arf4 function is conserved across diverse cell types; however, it appears that not all its aspects are conserved across species, as mouse Arf4 is a natural mutant in the conserved α3 helix, which is essential for its interaction with rhodopsin. Generally, activated Arf4 regulates the assembly of the targeting nexus containing the Arf GAP ASAP1 and the Rab11a-FIP3-Rabin8 dual effector complex, which controls the assembly of the highly conserved Rab11a-Rabin8-Rab8 ciliary-targeting module. It was recently found that this module interacts with the R-SNARE VAMP7, likely in its activated, c-Src-phosphorylated form. Rab11 and Rab8 bind VAMP7 regulatory longin domain (LD), whereas Rabin8 interacts with the SNARE domain, capturing VAMP7 for delivery to the ciliary base and subsequent pairing with the cognate SNAREs syntaxin 3 and SNAP-25. This review will focus on the implications of these novel findings that further illuminate the role of well-ordered Arf and Rab interaction networks in targeting of sensory receptors to primary cilia. Abbreviations: CTS: Ciliary-Targeting Signal; GAP: GTPase Activating Protein; GEF: Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor; RTC(s), Rhodopsin Transport Carrier(s); SNARE: Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor Attachment Protein Receptor; TGN: Trans-Golgi Network.

Coordination of Grp1 recruitment mechanisms by its phosphorylation

The action of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) on the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family of small GTPases initiates intracellular transport pathways. This role requires ARF GEFs to be recruited from the cytosol to intracellular membrane compartments. An ARF GEF known as General receptor for 3-phosphoinositides 1 (Grp1) is recruited to the plasma membrane through its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain that recognizes phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Here, we find that the phosphorylation of Grp1 induces its PH domain to recognize instead phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P). This phosphorylation also releases an autoinhibitory mechanism that results in the coil–coil (CC) domain of Grp1 engaging two peripheral membrane proteins of the recycling endosome. Because the combination of these actions results in Grp1 being recruited preferentially to the recycling endosome rather than to the plasma membrane, our findings reveal the complexity of recruitment mechanisms that need to be coordinated in localizing an ARF GEF to an intracellular compartment to initiate a transport pathway. Our elucidation is also remarkable for having revealed that phosphoinositide recognition by a PH domain can be switched through its phosphorylation.

Regulating the regulators: role of phosphorylation in modulating the function of the GBF1/BIG family of Sec7 ARF-GEFs

Membrane traffic between secretory and endosomal compartments is vesicle-mediated and must be tightly balanced to maintain a physiological compartment size. Vesicle formation is initiated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate the ARF family of small GTPases. Regulatory mechanisms, including reversible phosphorylation, allow ARF-GEFs to support vesicle formation only at the right time and place in response to cellular needs. Here, we review current knowledge of how the Golgi-specific brefeldin A-resistance factor 1 (GBF1)/brefeldin A-inhibited guanine nucleotide exchange protein (BIG) family of ARF-GEFs is influenced by phosphorylation and use predictive paradigms to propose new regulatory paradigms. We describe a conserved cluster of phosphorylation sites within the N-terminal domains of the GBF1/BIG ARF-GEFs and suggest that these sites may respond to homeostatic signals related to cell growth and division. In the C-terminal region, GBF1 shows phosphorylation sites clustered differently as compared with the similar configuration found in both BIG1 and BIG2. Despite this similarity, BIG1 and BIG2 phosphorylation patterns are divergent in other domains. The different clustering of phosphorylation sites suggests that the nonconserved sites may represent distinct regulatory nodes and specify the function of GBF1, BIG1, and BIG2.

Extensive GTPase crosstalk regulates Golgi trafficking and maturation

Virtually all transport events at the Golgi complex are regulated by Arf and Rab family GTPases. Recent work has advanced our knowledge regarding the mechanisms controlling GTPase activity, and it has become clear that GTPases do not act in isolation but rather function in complex networks of crosstalk and feedback. Together with earlier findings, these recent studies indicate that communication between GTPases, their regulatory proteins, effectors, and lipids plays a pivotal role in Golgi transport and cisternal maturation.

Identification of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for SAR1 in the filamentous fungal model Aspergillus nidulans

In spite of its basic and applied interest, the regulation of ER exit by filamentous fungi is insufficiently understood. In previous work we isolated a panel of conditional mutations in sarA encoding the master GTPase SarA^SAR1 in A. nidulans and demonstrated its key role in exocytosis and hyphal morphogenesis. However, the SAR1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), Sec12, has not been characterized in any filamentous fungus, largely due to the fact that SEC12 homologues share little amino acid sequence identity beyond a GGGGxxxxGϕxN motif involved in guanine nucleotide exchange. Here we demonstrate that AN11127 encodes A. nidulans Sec12, which is an essential protein that localizes to the ER and that, when overexpressed, rescues the growth defect resulting from a hypomorphic sarA6^ts mutation at 37 °C. Using purified, bacterially expressed proteins we demonstrate that the product of AN11127 accelerates nucleotide exchange on SarA^SAR1, but not on its closely related GTPase ArfA^ARF1, as expected for a bona fide GEF. The unequivocal characterization of A. nidulans Sec12 paves the way for the tailored modification of ER exit in a model organism that is closely related to industrial species of filamentous fungi.

Spatiotemporal dissection of the trans-Golgi network in budding yeast

The trans-Golgi network (TGN) acts as a sorting hub for membrane traffic. It receives newly synthesized and recycled proteins, and sorts and delivers them to specific targets such as the plasma membrane, endosomes and lysosomes/vacuoles. Accumulating evidence suggests that the TGN is generated from the trans-most cisterna of the Golgi by maturation, but the detailed transition processes remain obscure. Here, we examine spatiotemporal assembly dynamics of various Golgi/TGN-resident proteins in budding yeast by high-speed and high-resolution spinning-disk confocal microscopy. The Golgi–TGN transition gradually proceeds via at least three successive stages: the ‘Golgi stage’ where glycosylation occurs; the ‘early TGN stage’, which receives retrograde traffic; and the ‘late TGN stage’, where transport carriers are produced. During the stage transition periods, earlier and later markers are often compartmentalized within a cisterna. Furthermore, for the late TGN stage, various types of coat/adaptor proteins exhibit distinct assembly patterns. Taken together, our findings characterize the identity of the TGN as a membrane compartment that is structurally and functionally distinguishable from the Golgi.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Highlighted Article: The TGN displays two sub-stages of maturation: ‘early TGN’, when retrograde traffic is received, and ‘late TGN’, when transport carriers are produced. At the late TGN, various coat/adaptor proteins exhibit distinct assembly dynamics.

The Inhibitor Endosidin 4 Targets SEC7 Domain-Type ARF GTPase Exchange Factors and Interferes with Subcellular Trafficking in Eukaryotes

The trafficking of subcellular cargos in eukaryotic cells crucially depends on vesicle budding, a process mediated by ARF-GEFs (ADP-ribosylation factor guanine nucleotide exchange factors). In plants, ARF-GEFs play essential roles in endocytosis, vacuolar trafficking, recycling, secretion, and polar trafficking. Moreover, they are important for plant development, mainly through controlling the polar subcellular localization of PIN-FORMED transporters of the plant hormone auxin. Here, using a chemical genetics screen in Arabidopsis thaliana, we identified Endosidin 4 (ES4), an inhibitor of eukaryotic ARF-GEFs. ES4 acts similarly to and synergistically with the established ARF-GEF inhibitor Brefeldin A and has broad effects on intracellular trafficking, including endocytosis, exocytosis, and vacuolar targeting. Additionally, Arabidopsis and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mutants defective in ARF-GEF show altered sensitivity to ES4. ES4 interferes with the activation-based membrane association of the ARF1 GTPases, but not of their mutant variants that are activated independently of ARF-GEF activity. Biochemical approaches and docking simulations confirmed that ES4 specifically targets the SEC7 domain-containing ARF-GEFs. These observations collectively identify ES4 as a chemical tool enabling the study of ARF-GEF-mediated processes, including ARF-GEF-mediated plant development.

The Arf-GDP-regulated recruitment of GBF1 to Golgi membranes requires domains HDS1 and HDS2 and a Golgi-localized protein receptor

We previously proposed a novel mechanism by which the enzyme Golgi-specific Brefeldin A resistance factor 1 (GBF1) is recruited to the membranes of the cis-Golgi, based on in vivo experiments. Here, we extended our in vivo analysis on the production of regulatory Arf-GDP and observed that ArfGAP2 and ArfGAP3 do not play a role in GBF1 recruitment. We confirm that Arf-GDP localization is critical, as a TGN-localized Arf-GDP mutant protein fails to promote GBF1 recruitment. We also reported the establishment of an in vitro GBF1 recruitment assay that supports the regulation of GBF1 recruitment by Arf-GDP. This in vitro assay yielded further evidence for the requirement of a Golgi-localized protein because heat denaturation or protease treatment of Golgi membranes abrogated GBF1 recruitment. Finally, combined in vivo and in vitro measurements indicated that the recruitment to Golgi membranes via a putative receptor requires only the HDS1 and HDS2 domains in the C-terminal half of GBF1.

Summary:In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate Arf-GDP regulation of GBF1 recruitment to a heat-labile and protease-sensitive site on Golgi membranes. This recruitment requires the HDS1 and HDS2 domains.

The HUS box is required for allosteric regulation of the Sec7 Arf-GEF

The Golgi complex is the central membrane and protein-sorting station in eukaryotic cells. Activation of Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) GTPases is essential for vesicle formation via recruitment of cargo adaptors and coat proteins necessary for Golgi trafficking. Arf activation is spatially and temporally regulated by distinct guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) at different Golgi compartments. The yeast Arf-GEF Sec7 is a conserved and essential activator of Arf1 at the trans-Golgi network. Sec7 contains a highly conserved regulatory region, the homology upstream of Sec7 (HUS) box, with an unknown mechanistic role. In this study we explore how the HUS box, which is N-terminal to the catalytic domain, acts together with C-terminal regulatory domains in the allosteric activation of Sec7. We report that mutation of the HUS box disrupts positive feedback and allosteric activation of Sec7 by the GTPase Ypt31, a yeast Rab11 homolog. Taken together, our results support a model in which the inter- and intramolecular interactions of the HUS box and the C terminus are necessary for the allosteric activation of Sec7.

The ARF guanine nucleotide exchange factor GBF1 is targeted to Golgi membranes through a PIP-binding domain

ADP-ribosylation factors (ARF) GTPases are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) to support cellular homeostasis. Key to understanding spatio-temporal regulation of ARF signaling is the mechanism of GEF recruitment to membranes. Small GEFs are recruited through phosphoinositide (PIP) binding by a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain downstream from the catalytic Sec7 domain (Sec7d). The large GEFs lack PH domains, and their recruitment mechanisms are poorly understood. We probed Golgi recruitment of GBF1, a GEF catalyzing ARF activation required for Golgi homeostasis. We show that the homology downstream of Sec7d-1 (HDS1) regulates Golgi recruitment of GBF1. We document that GBF1 binds phosphoinositides, preferentially PI3P, PI4P and PI(4,5)P₂, and that lipid binding requires the HDS1 domain. Mutations within HDS1 that reduce GBF1 binding to specific PIPs in vitro inhibit GBF1 targeting to Golgi membranes in cells. Our data imply that HDS1 and PH domains are functionally analogous in that each uses lipid-based membrane information to regulate GEF recruitment. Lipid-based recruitment of GBF1 extends the paradigm of lipid regulation to small and large GEFs and suggests that lipid-based mechanisms evolved early during GEF diversification. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Regulation of ER-Golgi Transport Dynamics by GTPases in Budding Yeast

A large number of proteins are synthesized de novo in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). They are transported through the Golgi apparatus and then delivered to their proper destinations. The ER and the Golgi play a central role in protein processing and sorting and show dynamic features in their forms. Ras super family small GTPases mediate the protein transport through and between these organelles. The ER-localized GTPase, Sar1, facilitates the formation of COPII transport carriers at the ER exit sites (ERES) on the ER for the transport of cargo proteins from the ER to the Golgi. The Golgi-localized GTPase, Arf1, controls intra-Golgi, and Golgi-to-ER transport of cargo proteins by the formation of COPI carriers. Rab GTPases localized at the Golgi, which are responsible for fusion of membranes, are thought to establish the identities of compartments. Recent evidence suggests that these small GTPases regulate not only discrete sites for generation/fusion of transport carriers, but also membrane dynamics of the organelles where they locate to ensure the integrity of transport. Here we summarize the current understandings about the membrane traffic between these organelles and highlight the cutting-edge advances from super-resolution live imaging of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Regulation of Arf activation occurs via distinct mechanisms at early and late Golgi compartments

At the Golgi complex, the biosynthetic sorting center of the cell, the Arf GTPases are responsible for coordinating vesicle formation. The Arf-GEFs activate Arf GTPases and are therefore the key molecular decision-makers for trafficking from the Golgi. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, three conserved Arf-GEFs function at the Golgi: Sec7, Gea1, and Gea2. Our group has described the regulation of Sec7, the trans-Golgi Arf-GEF, through autoinhibition, positive feedback, dimerization, and interactions with a suite of small GTPases. However, we lack a clear understanding of the regulation of the early Golgi Arf-GEFs Gea1 and Gea2. Here we demonstrate that Gea1 and Gea2 prefer neutral over anionic membrane surfaces in vitro, consistent with their localization to the early Golgi. We illustrate a requirement for a critical mass of either Gea1 or Gea2 for cell growth under stress conditions. We show that the C-terminal domains of Gea1 and Gea2 toggle roles in the cytosol and at the membrane surface, preventing membrane binding in the absence of a recruiting interaction but promoting maximum catalytic activity once recruited. We also identify the small GTPase Ypt1 as a recruiter for Gea1 and Gea2. Our findings illuminate core regulatory mechanisms unique to the early Golgi Arf-GEFs.

The TRAPPIII complex activates the GTPase Ypt1 (Rab1) in the secretory pathway

The TRAPP complexes are nucleotide exchange factors that activate Rab GTPases, and four different versions of TRAPP have been reported. Thomas et al. show that only two versions of TRAPP are detectable in normal cells and demonstrate that the TRAPPIII complex regulates Golgi trafficking in addition to its established role in autophagy.

Rab GTPases serve as molecular switches to regulate eukaryotic membrane trafficking pathways. The transport protein particle (TRAPP) complexes activate Rab GTPases by catalyzing GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange. In mammalian cells, there are two distinct TRAPP complexes, yet in budding yeast, four distinct TRAPP complexes have been reported. The apparent differences between the compositions of yeast and mammalian TRAPP complexes have prevented a clear understanding of the specific functions of TRAPP complexes in all cell types. In this study, we demonstrate that akin to mammalian cells, wild-type yeast possess only two TRAPP complexes, TRAPPII and TRAPPIII. We find that TRAPPIII plays a major role in regulating Rab activation and trafficking at the Golgi in addition to its established role in autophagy. These disparate pathways share a common regulatory GTPase Ypt1 (Rab1) that is activated by TRAPPIII. Our findings lead to a simple yet comprehensive model for TRAPPIII function in both normal and starved eukaryotic cells.

The Arf GEF GBF1 and Arf4 synergize with the sensory receptor cargo, rhodopsin, to regulate ciliary membrane trafficking

The small GTPase Arf4 and the Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP) ASAP1 cooperatively sequester sensory receptor cargo into transport carriers targeted to primary cilia, but the input that drives Arf4 activation in this process remains unknown. Here, we show, by using frog retinas and recombinant human proteins, that during the carrier biogenesis from the photoreceptor Golgi/trans-Golgi network (TGN) a functional complex is formed between Arf4, the Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) GBF1 and the light-sensing receptor, rhodopsin. Rhodopsin and Arf4 bind the regulatory N-terminal dimerization and cyclophillin-binding (DCB)-homology upstream of Sec7 (HUS) domain of GBF1. The complex is sensitive to Golgicide A (GCA), a selective inhibitor of GBF1 that accordingly blocks rhodopsin delivery to the cilia, without disrupting the photoreceptor Golgi. The emergence of newly synthesized rhodopsin in the endomembrane system is essential for GBF1-Arf4 complex formation in vivo Notably, GBF1 interacts with the Arf GAP ASAP1 in a GCA-resistant manner. Our findings indicate that converging signals on GBF1 from the influx of cargo into the Golgi/TGN and the feedback from Arf4, combined with input from ASAP1, control Arf4 activation during sensory membrane trafficking to primary cilia.

BEN3/BIG2 ARF GEF is Involved in Brefeldin A-Sensitive Trafficking at the trans-Golgi Network/Early Endosome in Arabidopsis thaliana

Membrane traffic at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) is crucial for correctly distributing various membrane proteins to their destination. Polarly localized auxin efflux proteins, including PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1), are dynamically transported between the endosomes and the plasma membrane (PM) in the plant cells. The intracellular trafficking of PIN1 protein is sensitive to the fungal toxin brefeldin A (BFA), which is known to inhibit guanine nucleotide exchange factors for ADP ribosylation factors (ARF GEFs) such as GNOM. However, the molecular details of the BFA-sensitive trafficking pathway have not been fully revealed. In a previous study, we identified an Arabidopsis mutant BFA-visualized endocytic trafficking defective 3 (ben3) which exhibited reduced sensitivity to BFA in terms of BFA-induced intracellular PIN1 agglomeration. Here, we show that BEN3 encodes a member of BIG family ARF GEFs, BIG2. BEN3/BIG2 tagged with fluorescent proteins co-localized with markers for the TGN/early endosome (EE). Inspection of conditionally induced de novo synthesized PIN1 confirmed that its secretion to the PM is BFA sensitive, and established BEN3/BIG2 as a crucial component of this BFA action at the level of the TGN/EE. Furthermore, ben3 mutation alleviated BFA-induced agglomeration of another TGN-localized ARF GEF, BEN1/MIN7. Taken together, our results suggest that BEN3/BIG2 is an ARF GEF component, which confers BFA sensitivity to the TGN/EE in Arabidopsis.

Multiple activities of Arl1 GTPase in the trans-Golgi network

ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs) and ADP-ribosylation factor-like proteins (Arls) are highly conserved small GTPases that function as main regulators of vesicular trafficking and cytoskeletal reorganization. Arl1, the first identified member of the large Arl family, is an important regulator of Golgi complex structure and function in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. Together with its effectors, Arl1 has been shown to be involved in several cellular processes, including endosomal trans-Golgi network and secretory trafficking, lipid droplet and salivary granule formation, innate immunity and neuronal development, stress tolerance, as well as the response of the unfolded protein. In this Commentary, we provide a comprehensive summary of the Arl1-dependent cellular functions and a detailed characterization of several Arl1 effectors. We propose that involvement of Arl1 in these diverse cellular functions reflects the fact that Arl1 is activated at several late-Golgi sites, corresponding to specific molecular complexes that respond to and integrate multiple signals. We also provide insight into how the GTP-GDP cycle of Arl1 is regulated, and highlight a newly discovered mechanism that controls the sophisticated regulation of Arl1 activity at the Golgi complex.

Role of Arf GTPases in fungal morphogenesis and virulence

Virulence of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans depends on the switch from budding to filamentous growth, which requires sustained membrane traffic and polarized growth. In many organisms, small GTPases of the Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) family regulate membrane/protein trafficking, yet little is known about their role in fungal filamentous growth. To investigate these GTPases in C. albicans, we generated loss of function mutants in all 3 Arf proteins, Arf1-Arf3, and 2 Arf-like proteins, Arl1 and Arl3. Our results indicate that of these proteins, Arf2 is required for viability and sensitivity to antifungal drugs. Repressible ARF2 expression results in defects in filamentous growth, cell wall integrity and virulence, likely due to alteration of the Golgi. Arl1 is also required for invasive filamentous growth and, although arl1/arl1 cells can initiate hyphal growth, hyphae are substantially shorter than that of the wild-type, due to the inability of this mutant to maintain hyphal growth at a single site. We show that this defect does not result from an alteration of phospholipid distribution and is unlikely to result from the sole Golgin Imh1 mislocalization, as Imh1 is not required for invasive filamentous growth. Rather, our results suggest that the arl1/arl1 hyphal growth defect results from increased secretion in this mutant. Strikingly, the arl1/arl1 mutant is drastically reduced in virulence during oropharyngeal candidiasis. Together, our results highlight the importance of Arl1 and Arf2 as key regulators of hyphal growth and virulence in C. albicans and identify a unique function of Arl1 in secretion.

An Overview of Protein Secretion in Yeast and Animal Cells

Protein secretion mediated by the secretory transport pathway is an important cellular process in eukaryotic cells. In the conventional secretory transport pathway, newly synthesized proteins pass through several endomembrane compartments en route to their specific destinations. Transport of secretory proteins between different compartments is shuttled by small, membrane-enclosed vesicles. To ensure the fidelity of transport, eukaryotic cells employ elaborate molecular machineries to accurately sort newly synthesized proteins into specific transport vesicles and precisely deliver these transport vesicles to distinct acceptor compartments. In this review, we summarize the molecular machineries that regulate each step of vesicular transport in the secretory transport pathway in yeast and animal cells.

GTPase cross talk regulates TRAPPII activation of Rab11 homologues during vesicle biogenesis

Rab GTPases control vesicle formation and transport, but which proteins are important for their regulation is incompletely understood. Thomas and Fromme provide definitive evidence that TRAPPII is a GEF for the yeast Rab11 homologues Ypt31/32 and implicate the GTPase Arf1 in TRAPPII recruitment, suggesting that a bidirectional cross talk mechanism drives vesicle biogenesis.

Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) control cellular trafficking pathways by regulating vesicle formation, transport, and tethering. Rab11 and its paralogs regulate multiple secretory and endocytic recycling pathways, yet the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that activates Rab11 in most eukaryotic cells is unresolved. The large multisubunit transport protein particle (TRAPP) II complex has been proposed to act as a GEF for Rab11 based on genetic evidence, but conflicting biochemical experiments have created uncertainty regarding Rab11 activation. Using physiological Rab-GEF reconstitution reactions, we now provide definitive evidence that TRAPPII is a bona fide GEF for the yeast Rab11 homologues Ypt31/32. We also uncover a direct role for Arf1, a distinct GTPase, in recruiting TRAPPII to anionic membranes. Given the known role of Ypt31/32 in stimulating activation of Arf1, a bidirectional cross talk mechanism appears to drive biogenesis of secretory and endocytic recycling vesicles. By coordinating simultaneous activation of two essential GTPase pathways, this mechanism ensures recruitment of the complete set of effectors needed for vesicle formation, transport, and tethering.

Allosteric regulation of Arf GTPases and their GEFs at the membrane interface

Arf GTPases assemble protein complexes on membranes to carry out major functions in cellular traffic. An essential step is their activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), whose Sec7 domain stimulates GDP/GTP exchange. ArfGEFs form 2 major families: ArfGEFs with DCB, HUS and HDS domains (GBF1 and BIG1/BIG2 in humans), which act at the Golgi; and ArfGEFs with a C-terminal PH domain (cytohesin, EFA6 and BRAG), which function at the plasma membrane and endosomes. In addition, pathogenic bacteria encode an ArfGEF with a unique membrane-binding domain. Here we review the allosteric regulation of Arf GTPases and their GEFs at the membrane interface. Membranes contribute several regulatory layers: at the GTPase level, where activation by GTP is coupled to membrane recruitment by a built-in structural device; at the Sec7 domain, which manipulates this device to ensure that Arf-GTP is attached to membranes; and at the level of non-catalytic ArfGEF domains, which form direct or GTPase-mediated interactions with membranes that enable a spectacular diversity of regulatory regimes. Notably, we show here that membranes increase the efficiency of a large ArfGEF (human BIG1) by 32-fold by interacting directly with its N-terminal DCB and HUS domains. The diversity of allosteric regulatory regimes suggests that ArfGEFs can function in cascades and circuits to modulate the shape, amplitude and duration of Arf signals in cells. Because Arf-like GTPases feature autoinhibitory elements similar to those of Arf GTPases, we propose that their activation also requires allosteric interactions of these elements with membranes or other proteins.

Golgi membrane fission requires the CtBP1-S/BARS-induced activation of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase δ

Membrane fission is an essential cellular process by which continuous membranes split into separate parts. We have previously identified CtBP1-S/BARS (BARS) as a key component of a protein complex that is required for fission of several endomembranes, including basolateral post-Golgi transport carriers. Assembly of this complex occurs at the Golgi apparatus, where BARS binds to the phosphoinositide kinase PI4KIIIβ through a 14-3-3γ dimer, as well as to ARF and the PKD and PAK kinases. We now report that, when incorporated into this complex, BARS binds to and activates a trans-Golgi lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) acyltransferase type δ (LPAATδ) that converts LPA into phosphatidic acid (PA); and that this reaction is essential for fission of the carriers. LPA and PA have unique biophysical properties, and their interconversion might facilitate the fission process either directly or indirectly (via recruitment of proteins that bind to PA, including BARS itself).

Structural Insights into Arl1-Mediated Targeting of the Arf-GEF BIG1 to the trans-Golgi

The GTPase Arf1 is the major regulator of vesicle traffic at both the cis- and trans-Golgi. Arf1 is activated at the cis-Golgi by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) GBF1 and at the trans-Golgi by the related GEF BIG1 or its paralog, BIG2. The trans-Golgi-specific targeting of BIG1 and BIG2 depends on the Arf-like GTPase Arl1. We find that Arl1 binds to the dimerization and cyclophilin binding (DCB) domain in BIG1 and report a crystal structure of human Arl1 bound to this domain. Residues in the DCB domain that bind Arl1 are required for BIG1 to locate to the Golgi in vivo. DCB domain-binding residues in Arl1 have a distinct conformation from those in known Arl1-effector complexes, and this plasticity allows Arl1 to interact with different effectors of unrelated structure. The findings provide structural insight into how Arf1 GEFs, and hence active Arf1, achieve their correct subcellular distribution.

Unfolded protein response regulates yeast small GTPase Arl1p activation at late Golgi via phosphorylation of Arf GEF Syt1p

ADP ribosylation factor (Arf) GTPases are key regulators of membrane traffic at the Golgi complex. In yeast, Arf guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) Syt1p activates Arf-like protein Arl1p, which was accompanied by accumulation of golgin Imh1p at late Golgi, but whether and how this function of Syt1p is regulated remains unclear. Here, we report that the inositol-requiring kinase 1 (Ire1p)-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR) modulated Arl1p activation at late Golgi. Arl1p activation was dependent on both kinase and endo-RNase activities of Ire1p. Moreover, constitutively active transcription factor Hac1p restored the Golgi localization of Arl1p and Imh1p inIRE1-deleted cells. Elucidating the mechanism of Ire1p-Hac1p axis actions, we found that it regulated phosphorylation of Syt1p, which enhances Arl1p activation, recruitment of Imh1p to the Golgi, and Syt1p interaction with Arl1p. Consistent with these findings, the induction of UPR by tunicamycin treatment increases phosphorylation of Syt1p, resulting in Arl1p activation. Thus, these findings clarify how the UPR influences the roles of Syt1p, Arl1p, and Imh1p in Golgi transport.

The Sec7 N-terminal regulatory domains facilitate membrane-proximal activation of the Arf1 GTPase

The Golgi complex is the central sorting compartment of eukaryotic cells. Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Arf-GEFs) regulate virtually all traffic through the Golgi by activating Arf GTPase trafficking pathways. The Golgi Arf-GEFs contain multiple autoregulatory domains, but the precise mechanisms underlying their function remain largely undefined. We report a crystal structure revealing that the N-terminal DCB and HUS regulatory domains of the Arf-GEF Sec7 form a single structural unit. We demonstrate that the established role of the N-terminal region in dimerization is not conserved; instead, a C-terminal autoinhibitory domain is responsible for dimerization of Sec7. We find that the DCB/HUS domain amplifies the ability of Sec7 to activate Arf1 on the membrane surface by facilitating membrane insertion of the Arf1 amphipathic helix. This enhancing function of the Sec7 N-terminal domains is consistent with the high rate of Arf1-dependent trafficking to the plasma membrane necessary for maximal cell growth.

Regulators and Effectors of Arf GTPases in Neutrophils

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are key innate immune cells that represent the first line of defence against infection. They are the first leukocytes to migrate from the blood to injured or infected sites. This process involves molecular mechanisms that coordinate cell polarization, delivery of receptors, and activation of integrins at the leading edge of migrating PMNs. These phagocytes actively engulf microorganisms or form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to trap and kill pathogens with bactericidal compounds. Association of the NADPH oxidase complex at the phagosomal membrane for production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and delivery of proteolytic enzymes into the phagosome initiate pathogen killing and removal. G protein-dependent signalling pathways tightly control PMN functions. In this review, we will focus on the small monomeric GTPases of the Arf family and their guanine exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) as components of signalling cascades regulating PMN responses. GEFs and GAPs are multidomain proteins that control cellular events in time and space through interaction with other proteins and lipids inside the cells. The number of Arf GAPs identified in PMNs is expanding, and dissecting their functions will provide important insights into the role of these proteins in PMN physiology.

Biochemical methods for studying kinetic regulation of Arf1 activation by Sec7

The ADP ribosylation factor (Arf) family of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) regulates vesicular transport at several locations within the cell, and is in turn regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) via a conserved catalytic domain, termed the Sec7 domain. The catalytic activity of the Sec7 domain is well characterized in the context of a few GEFs acting at the periphery of the cell. This chapter describes the techniques used to extend the biochemical analysis of activity to the much larger GEFs acting on the Arf family in the core secretory pathway, using the activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sec7 on Arf1, regulating export from the trans-Golgi network, as a model. The complete methods for purification to near homogeneity of all proteins required, including several Sec7 constructs and multiple relevant small GTPases, are detailed. These are followed by methods for the quantification of the nucleotide exchange activity of Sec7 in a physiologically relevant context, including modifications required to dissect the signal integration functions of Sec7 as an effector of several other small GTPases, and methods for identifying stable Sec7-small GTPase interactions in the presence of membranes. These techniques may be extended to the analysis of similar members of the Sec7 GEF subfamily in other species and acting elsewhere in the secretory pathway.