Selective packaging of cargo molecules into endoplasmic reticulum-derived COPII vesicles

A BLOC-1-AP-3 super-complex sorts a cis-SNARE complex into endosome-derived tubular transport carriers

Membrane transport carriers fuse with target membranes through engagement of cognate vSNAREs and tSNAREs on each membrane. How vSNAREs are sorted into transport carriers is incompletely understood. Here we show that VAMP7, the vSNARE for fusing endosome-derived tubular transport carriers with maturing melanosomes in melanocytes, is sorted into transport carriers in complex with the tSNARE component STX13. Sorting requires either recognition of VAMP7 by the AP-3δ subunit of AP-3 or of STX13 by the pallidin subunit of BLOC-1, but not both. Consequently, melanocytes expressing both AP-3δ and pallidin variants that cannot bind their respective SNARE proteins are hypopigmented and fail to sort BLOC-1-dependent cargo, STX13, or VAMP7 into transport carriers. However, SNARE binding does not influence BLOC-1 function in generating tubular transport carriers. These data reveal a novel mechanism of vSNARE sorting by recognition of redundant sorting determinants on a SNARE complex by an AP-3-BLOC-1 super-complex.

COPII collar defines the boundary between ER and ER exit site and does not coat cargo containers

COPII and COPI mediate the formation of membrane vesicles translocating in opposite directions within the secretory pathway. Live-cell and electron microscopy revealed a novel mode of function for COPII during cargo export from the ER. COPII is recruited to membranes defining the boundary between the ER and ER exit sites, facilitating selective cargo concentration. Using direct observation of living cells, we monitored cargo selection processes, accumulation, and fission of COPII-free ERES membranes. CRISPR/Cas12a tagging, the RUSH system, and pharmaceutical and genetic perturbations of ER-Golgi transport demonstrated that the COPII coat remains bound to the ER–ERES boundary during protein export. Manipulation of the cargo-binding domain in COPII Sec24B prohibits cargo accumulation in ERES. These findings suggest a role for COPII in selecting and concentrating exported cargo rather than coating Golgi-bound carriers. These findings transform our understanding of coat proteins’ role in ER-to-Golgi transport.

COPII mitigates ER stress by promoting formation of ER whorls

Cells mitigate ER stress through the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here, we report formation of ER whorls as an effector mechanism of the ER stress response. We found that strong ER stress induces formation of ER whorls, which contain ER-resident proteins such as the Sec61 complex and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). ER whorl formation is dependent on PERK kinase activity and is mediated by COPII machinery, which facilitates ER membrane budding to form tubular-vesicular ER whorl precursors. ER whorl precursors then go through Sec22b-mediated fusion to form ER whorls. We further show that ER whorls contribute to ER stress-induced translational inhibition by possibly modulating PERK activity and by sequestering translocons in a ribosome-free environment. We propose that formation of ER whorls reflects a new type of ER stress response that controls inhibition of protein translation.

Functional dissection of the retrograde Shiga toxin trafficking inhibitor Retro-2

The retrograde transport inhibitor Retro-2 has a protective effect on cells and in mice against Shiga-like toxins and ricin. Retro-2 causes toxin accumulation in early endosomes, and relocalization of the Golgi SNARE protein syntaxin-5 to the endoplasmic reticulum. The molecular mechanisms by which this is achieved remain unknown. Here, we show that Retro-2 targets the endoplasmic reticulum exit site component Sec16A, affecting anterograde transport of syntaxin-5 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. The formation of canonical SNARE complexes involving syntaxin-5 is not affected in Retro-2-treated cells. In contrast, the interaction of syntaxin-5 with a newly discovered binding partner, the retrograde trafficking chaperone GPP130, is abolished, and we show that GPP130 must indeed bind to syntaxin-5 to drive Shiga toxin transport from endosomes to the Golgi. We thereby identify Sec16A as a druggable target, and provide evidence for a non-SNARE function for syntaxin-5 in interaction with the GPP130.

Multifunctional Chaperone and Quality Control Complexes in Adaptive Immunity

The fundamental process of adaptive immunity relies on the differentiation of self from nonself. Nucleated cells are continuously monitored by effector cells of the immune system, which police the peptide status presented via cell surface molecules. Recent integrative structural approaches have provided insights toward our understanding of how sophisticated cellular machineries shape such hierarchical immune surveillance. Biophysical and structural achievements were invaluable for defining the interconnection of many key factors during antigen processing and presentation, and helped to solve several conundrums that persisted for many years. In this review, we illuminate the numerous quality control machineries involved in different steps during the maturation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) proteins, from their synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum to folding and trafficking via the secretory pathway, optimization of antigenic cargo, final release to the cell surface, and engagement with their cognate receptors on cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Sec24C-Dependent Transport of Claudin-1 Regulates Hepatitis C Virus Entry

Claudin-1 is a hepatitis C virus (HCV) coreceptor required for viral entry. Although extensive studies have focused on claudin-1 as an anti-HCV target, little is known about how the level of claudin-1 at the cell surface is regulated by host vesicular transport. Here, we identified an interaction between claudin-1 and Sec24C, a cargo-sorting component of the coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicular transport system. By interacting with Sec24C through its C-terminal YV, claudin-1 is transported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is eventually targeted to the cell surface. Blocking COPII transport inhibits HCV entry by reducing the level of claudin-1 at the cell surface. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the role of COPII vesicular transport in HCV entry.IMPORTANCE Tight junction protein claudin-1 is one of the cellular receptors for hepatitis C virus, which infects 185 million people globally. Its cellular distribution plays important role in HCV entry; however, it is unclear how the localization of claudin-1 to the cell surface is controlled by host transport pathways. In this paper, we not only identified Sec24C as a key host factor for HCV entry but also uncovered a novel mechanism by which the COPII machinery transports claudin-1 to the cell surface. This mechanism might be extended to other claudins that contain a C-terminal YV or V motif.

Comparative Proteomics Reveals Strain-Specific β-TrCP Degradation via Rotavirus NSP1 Hijacking a Host Cullin-3-Rbx1 Complex

Rotaviruses (RVs) are the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children, accounting for half a million deaths annually worldwide. RV encodes non-structural protein 1 (NSP1), a well-characterized interferon (IFN) antagonist, which facilitates virus replication by mediating the degradation of host antiviral factors including IRF3 and β-TrCP. Here, we utilized six human and animal RV NSP1s as baits and performed tandem-affinity purification coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry to comprehensively characterize NSP1-host protein interaction network. Multiple Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL) complexes were identified. Importantly, inhibition of cullin-3 (Cul3) or RING-box protein 1 (Rbx1), by siRNA silencing or chemical perturbation, significantly impairs strain-specific NSP1-mediated β-TrCP degradation. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that NSP1 localizes to the Golgi with the host Cul3-Rbx1 CRL complex, which targets β-TrCP and NSP1 for co-destruction at the proteasome. Our study uncovers a novel mechanism that RV employs to promote β-TrCP turnover and provides molecular insights into virus-mediated innate immunity inhibition.

Release from endoplasmic reticulum matrix proteins controls cell surface transport of MHC class I molecules

The anterograde transport of secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane is a multi-step process. Secretory proteins differ greatly in their transport rates to the cell surface, but the contribution of each individual step to this difference is poorly understood. Transport rates may be determined by protein folding, chaperone association in the ER, access to ER exit sites (ERES) and retrieval from the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment or the cis-Golgi to the ER. We have used a combination of folding and trafficking assays to identify the differential step in the cell surface transport of two natural allotypes of the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptide receptor, H-2D(b) and H-2K(b) . We find that a novel pre-ER exit process that acts on the folded lumenal part of MHC class I molecules and that drastically limits their access to ERES accounts for the transport difference of the two allotypes. Our observations support a model in which the cell surface transport of MHC class I molecules and other type I transmembrane proteins is governed by the affinity of all their folding and maturation states to the proteins of the ER matrix.

Transport and quality control of MHC class I molecules in the early secretory pathway

Folding and peptide binding of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules have been thoroughly researched, but the mechanistic connection between these biochemical events and the progress of class I through the early secretory pathway is much less well understood. This review focuses on the question how the partially assembled forms of class I (which lack high-affinity peptide and/or the light chain beta-2 microglobulin) are retained inside the cell. Such investigations offer researchers exciting chances to understand the connections between class I structure, conformational dynamics, peptide binding kinetics and thermodynamics, intracellular transport, and antigen presentation.

L1 syndrome mutations impair neuronal L1 function at different levels by divergent mechanisms

Mutations in the human L1CAM gene cause neurodevelopmental disorders collectively referred to as L1 syndrome. Here, we investigated cellular pathomechanisms underlying two L1 syndrome mutations, R184Q and W1036L. We demonstrate that these mutations cause partial endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention of L1, reduce L1 cell surface expression, but do not induce ER stress in neuronal NSC-34 cells. We provide evidence that surface trafficking of mutated L1 is affected by defective sorting to ER exit sites and attenuated ER export. However, in differentiated neuronal cultures and long-term cultured hippocampal slices, the L1-R184Q protein is restricted to cell bodies, whereas L1-W1036L also aberrantly localizes to dendrites. These trafficking defects preclude axonal targeting of L1, thereby affecting L1-mediated axon growth and arborization. Our results indicate that L1 syndrome mutations impair neuronal L1 function at different levels, firstly by attenuating ER export and secondly by interfering with polarized neuronal trafficking.

Correction of murine hemophilia A and immunological differences of factor VIII variants delivered by helper-dependent adenoviral vectors

Bioengineering of the factor VIII (FVIII) molecule has led to the production of variants that overcome poor secretion and/or rapid inactivation. We tested six modified FVIII variants for in vivo efficacy by expressing them from helper-dependent adenoviral (HD-Ad) vectors. We constructed a wild-type (WT) variant, a B-domain-deleted (BDD) variant, a point mutant for improved secretion (F309S), a variant with a partial B-domain deletion for improved secretion (N6), a combination of the point mutant and partial BDD variant (F309N6), and an inactivation-resistant (IR8) FVIII variant. All the constructs expressed functional protein after injection of high-dose HD-Ad. Activity ranged from 20 to 50% with WT, to approximately 100% with the N6 and F309N6 variants. Interestingly, mice treated with N6 showed long-term FVIII activity and phenotypic correction for up to 74 weeks, with low anti-FVIII antibody titer. Importantly, the N6 variant was therapeutically efficacious even after a 50% reduction of viral dose, thereby indicating that transgene modification itself can improve the dose efficacy of HD-Ad. This finding is significant, because dose efficacy is a key factor in clinical application. In summary, bioengineering of the FVIII molecule may be an effective approach to improving the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of HD-Ad gene therapy in hemophilia A (HA).

Diacidic motifs influence the export of transmembrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum in plant cells

In yeast and mammals, amino acid motifs in the cytosolic tails of transmembrane domains play a role in protein trafficking by facilitating export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, little is known about ER export signals of membrane proteins in plants. Therefore, we investigated the role of diacidic motifs in the ER export of Golgi-localized membrane proteins. We show that diacidic motifs perform a significant function in the export of transmembrane proteins to the Golgi apparatus, as mutations of these signals impede the efficient anterograde transport of multispanning, type II, and type I proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that diacidic motifs instigate the export of proteins that reside in the ER due to the lengths of their transmembrane domains. However, not all of the diacidic motifs in the cytosolic tails of the proteins studied were equally important in ER export. Transport of Golgi proteins was disrupted only by mutagenesis of specific diacidic signals, suggesting that the protein environment of these signals affects their function. Our findings indicate that diacidic ER export motifs are present and functional in plant membrane proteins and that they are dominant over transmembrane domain length in determining the export of proteins from the ER in plant cells.

Exiting the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Vesicular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex constitutes the initial step in protein secretion. COPII-coated vesicles mediate the export of newly synthesized proteins from the ER, and this transport step is coupled with COPI-mediated retrograde traffic to form a transport circuit that supports the compositional asymmetry of the ER-Golgi system. Biochemical and structural studies have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms that control vesicle formation and cargo-protein capture. Recent work has highlighted the function of transitional ER regions in specifying the location of COPII budding.

Uncoupled packaging of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 into coat protein complex II vesicles

Mutant forms of presenilin (PS) 1 and 2 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) lead to familial Alzheimer's disease. Several reports indicate that PS may modulate APP export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To develop a test of this possibility, we reconstituted the capture of APP and PS1 in COPII (coat protein complex II) vesicles formed from ER membranes in permeabilized cultured cells. The recombinant forms of mammalian COPII proteins were active in a reaction that measures coat subunit assembly and coated vesicle budding on chemically defined synthetic liposomes. However, the recombinant COPII proteins were not active in cargo capture and vesicle budding from microsomal membranes. In contrast, rat liver cytosol was active in stimulating the sorting and packaging of APP, PS1, and p58 (an itinerant ER to Golgi marker protein) into transport vesicles from donor ER membranes. Budding was stimulated in dilute cytosol by the addition of recombinant COPII proteins. Fractionation of the cytosol suggested one or more additional proteins other than the COPII subunits may be essential for cargo selection or vesicle formation from the mammalian ER membrane. The recombinant Sec24C specifically recognized the APP C-terminal region for packaging. Titration of Sarla distinguished the packaging requirements of APP and PS1. Furthermore, APP packaging was not affected by deletion of PS1 or PS1 and 2, suggesting APP and PS1 trafficking from the ER are normally uncoupled.

Stable and dynamic axes of polarity use distinct formin isoforms in budding yeast

Bud growth in yeast is guided by myosin-driven delivery of secretory vesicles from the mother cell to the bud. We find transport occurs along two sets of actin cables assembled by two formin isoforms. The Bnr1p formin assembles cables that radiate from the bud neck into the mother, providing a stable mother-bud axis. These cables also depend on septins at the neck and are required for efficient transport from the mother to the bud. The Bni1p formin assembles cables that line the bud cortex and target vesicles to varying locations in the bud. Loss of these cables results in morphological defects as vesicles accumulate at the neck. Assembly of these cables depends on continued polarized secretion, suggesting vesicular transport provides a positive feedback signal for Bni1p activation, possibly by rho-proteins. By coupling different formin isoforms to unique cortical landmarks, yeast uses common cytoskeletal elements to maintain stable and dynamic axes in the same cell.

Bioengineering of coagulation factor VIII for improved secretion

Factor VIII (FVIII) functions as a cofactor within the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. Quantitative or qualitative deficiencies of FVIII result in the inherited bleeding disorder hemophilia A. Expression of FVIII (domain structure A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2) in heterologous mammalian systems is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude less efficient compared with other proteins of similar size compromising recombinant FVIII production and gene therapy strategies. FVIII expression is limited by unstable mRNA, interaction with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones, and a requirement for facilitated ER to Golgi transport through interaction with the mannose-binding lectin LMAN1. Bioengineering strategies can overcome each of these limitations. B-domain-deleted (BDD)-FVIII yields higher mRNA levels, and targeted point mutations within the A1 domain reduce interaction with the ER chaperone immunoglobulin-binding protein. In order to increase ER to Golgi transport we engineered several asparagine-linked oligosaccharides within a short B-domain spacer within BDD-FVIII. A bioengineered FVIII incorporating all of these elements was secreted 15- to 25-fold more efficiently than full-length FVIII both in vitro and in vivo. FVIII bioengineered for improved secretion will significantly increase potential for success in gene therapy strategies for hemophilia A as well as improve recombinant FVIII production in cell culture manufacturing or transgenic animals.

LMAN1 is a molecular chaperone for the secretion of coagulation factor VIII

Combined deficiency of both coagulation factors (F)V and VIII is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder caused by null expression of LMAN1 (previously termed ERGIC-53) in a majority of affected individuals. Previously, a requirement for a functional LMAN1 cycling pathway between the ER and Golgi was demonstrated for efficient secretion of FV and FVIII (Moussalli et al. J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 32569), however, the molecular nature of the interaction between LMAN1 and its cargo was not characterized. Using coimmunoprecipitation of LMAN1 and FVIII from transfected HeLa and COS-1 cells, we demonstrate an interaction between LMAN1 and FVIII in vivo. The interaction was mediated via high mannose-containing asparagine-linked oligosaccharides that are densely situated within the B domain of FVIII, as well as protein-protein interactions. These results are interpreted based on the recent determination of the crystal structure of the carbohydrate recognition domain of LMAN1.

Selective protein exit from yeast endoplasmic reticulum in absence of functional COPII coat component Sec13p

Sec13p has been thought to be an essential component of the COPII coat, required for exit of proteins from the yeast endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We show herein that normal function of Sec13p was not required for ER exit of the Hsp150 glycoprotein. Hsp150 was secreted to the medium under restrictive conditions in a sec13-1 mutant. The COPII components Sec23p and Sec31p and the GTP/GDP exchange factor Sec12p were required in functional form for secretion of Hsp150. Hsp150 leaves the ER in the absence of retrograde COPI traffic, and the responsible determinant is a peptide repeated 11 times in the middle of the Hsp150 sequence. Herein, we localized the sorting determinant for Sec13p-independent ER exit to the C-terminal domain. Sec13p-dependent invertase left the ER in the absence of normal Sec13p function, when fused to the C-terminal domain of Hsp150, demonstrating that this domain contained an active mediator of Sec13p-independent secretion. Thus, Hsp150 harbors two different signatures that regulate its ER exit. Our data show that transport vesicles lacking functional Sec13p can carry out ER-to-Golgi transport, but select only specific cargo protein(s) for ER exit.

Syntaxin 7, syntaxin 8, Vti1 and VAMP7 (vesicle-associated membrane protein 7) form an active SNARE complex for early macropinocytic compartment fusion in Dictyostelium discoideum

The macropinocytic pathway in Dictyostelium discoideum is organized linearly. After actin-driven internalization, fluid material passes sequentially from endosomes to lysosomes, where molecules are degraded and absorbed. Residual material is exocytosed via post-lysosomal compartments. Syntaxin 7 is a SNARE (soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor) protein that is present and active in D. discoideum endosomes [Bogdanovic, Bruckert, Morio and Satre (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 36691-36697]. Here we report the identification of its main SNARE partners by co-immunoprecipitation and MS peptide sequencing. The syntaxin 7 complex contains two co-t-SNAREs [Vti1 (Vps10p tail interactor 1) and syntaxin 8] and a v-SNARE [VAMP7 (vesicle-associated membrane protein 7)] (where t-SNAREs are SNAREs of the target compartment and v-SNAREs are SNAREs present in donor vesicles). In endosomes and in vitro, syntaxin 7, Vti1 and syntaxin 8 form a complex that is able to bind VAMP7. Antibodies to syntaxin 8 and a soluble recombinant VAMP7 fragment both inhibit in vitro reconstituted D. discoideum endosome fusion. The lysosomal content of syntaxin 7, Vti1, syntaxin 8 and VAMP7 is low compared with that in endosomes, implying a highly active recycling or retention mechanism. A likely model is that VAMP7 is a v-SNARE present on vesicles carrying lysosomal enzymes, and that the syntaxin 7-Vti1-syntaxin 8 t-SNARE complex is associated with incoming endocytic material.

The Erv41p-Erv46p complex: multiple export signals are required in trans for COPII-dependent transport from the ER

Erv41p and Erv46p form an integral membrane protein complex that cycles between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. Both proteins contain a large lumenal domain and short N- and C-terminal tail sequences exposed to the cytosol. The coat protein complex II (COPII) packages the Erv41p-Erv46p complex into ER-derived vesicles for delivery to the Golgi. We determined signals in the Erv41p-Erv46p complex that are required for COPII-dependent export from the ER. Mutants lacking the Erv41p or Erv46p C-terminus accumulated in the ER and were not packaged efficiently into vesicles. We identified an isoleucine-leucine sequence in the Erv41p tail that was required for COPII binding and inclusion of the complex into vesicles. This signal was sufficient for COPII binding but not for ER export. The Erv46p tail contains a phenylalanine-tyrosine sequence required together with the isoleucine-leucine signal in Erv41p for export of the complex. Surprisingly, Erv41p- Erv46p tail-swapped chimeras were not exported from the ER, indicating that signals in both the Erv41p and the Erv46p tail sequences are required in a specific orientation for efficient packaging of the Erv41p-Erv46p complex.

Sec16p potentiates the action of COPII proteins to bud transport vesicles

SEC16 encodes a 240-kD hydrophilic protein that is required for transport vesicle budding from the ER in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sec16p is tightly and peripherally bound to ER membranes, hence it is not one of the cytosolic proteins required to reconstitute transport vesicle budding in a cell-free reaction. However, Sec16p is removed from the membrane by salt washes, and using such membranes we have reconstituted a vesicle budding reaction dependent on the addition of COPII proteins and pure Sec16p. Although COPII vesicle budding is promoted by GTP or a nonhydrolyzable analogue, guanylimide diphosphate (GMP-PNP), Sec16p stimulation is dependent on GTP in the reaction. Details of coat protein assembly and Sec16p-stimulated vesicle budding were explored with synthetic liposomes composed of a mixture of lipids, including acidic phospholipids (major-minor mix), or a simple binary mixture of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Sec16p binds to major-minor mix liposomes and facilitates the recruitment of COPII proteins and vesicle budding in a reaction that is stimulated by Sar1p and GMP-PNP. Thin-section electron microscopy confirms a stimulation of budding profiles produced by incubation of liposomes with COPII and Sec16p. Whereas acidic phospholipids in the major-minor mix are required to recruit pure Sec16p to liposomes, PC/PE liposomes bind Sar1p-GTP, which stimulates the association of Sec16p and Sec23/24p. We propose that Sec16p nucleates a Sar1-GTP-dependent initiation of COPII assembly and serves to stabilize the coat to premature disassembly after Sar1p hydrolyzes GTP.

ER-golgi traffic is a prerequisite for efficient ER degradation

Protein quality control is an essential function of the endoplasmic reticulum. Misfolded proteins unable to acquire their native conformation are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, retro-translocated back into the cytosol, and degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We show that efficient degradation of soluble malfolded proteins in yeast requires a fully competent early secretory pathway. Mutations in proteins essential for ER-Golgi protein traffic severely inhibit ER degradation of the model substrate CPY*. We found ER localization of CPY* in WT cells, but no other specific organelle for ER degradation could be identified by electron microscopy studies. Because CPY* is degraded in COPI coat mutants, only a minor fraction of CPY* or of a proteinaceous factor required for degradation seems to enter the recycling pathway between ER and Golgi. Therefore, we propose that the disorganized structure of the ER and/or the mislocalization of Kar2p, observed in early secretory mutants, is responsible for the reduction in CPY* degradation. Further, we observed that mutations in proteins directly involved in degradation of malfolded proteins (Der1p, Der3/Hrd1p, and Hrd3p) lead to morphological changes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi, escape of CPY* into the secretory pathway and a slower maturation rate of wild-type CPY.

Association of tapasin and COPI provides a mechanism for the retrograde transport of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum

Tapasin is a subunit of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). It associates with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. We show that tapasin interacts with beta- and gamma-subunits of COPI coatomer. COPI retrieves membrane proteins from the Golgi network back to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The COPI subunit-associated tapasin also interacts with MHC class I molecules suggesting that tapasin acts as the cargo receptor for packing MHC class I molecules as cargo proteins into COPI-coated vesicles. In tapasin mutant cells, neither TAP nor MHC class I are detected in association with the COPI coatomer. Interestingly, tapasin-associated MHC class I molecules are antigenic peptide-receptive and detected in both the ER and the Golgi. Our data suggest that tapasin is required for the COPI vesicle-mediated retrograde transport of immature MHC class I molecules from the Golgi network to the ER.

Quantitative ER <--> Golgi transport kinetics and protein separation upon Golgi exit revealed by vesicular integral membrane protein 36 dynamics in live cells

To quantitatively investigate the trafficking of the transmembrane lectin VIP36 and its relation to cargo-containing transport carriers (TCs), we analyzed a C-terminal fluorescent-protein (FP) fusion, VIP36-SP-FP. When expressed at moderate levels, VIP36-SP-FP localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and intermediate transport structures, and colocalized with epitope-tagged VIP36. Temperature shift and pharmacological experiments indicated VIP36-SP-FP recycled in the early secretory pathway, exhibiting trafficking representative of a class of transmembrane cargo receptors, including the closely related lectin ERGIC53. VIP36-SP-FP trafficking structures comprised tubules and globular elements, which translocated in a saltatory manner. Simultaneous visualization of anterograde secretory cargo and VIP36-SP-FP indicated that the globular structures were pre-Golgi carriers, and that VIP36-SP-FP segregated from cargo within the Golgi and was not included in post-Golgi TCs. Organelle-specific bleach experiments directly measured the exchange of VIP36-SP-FP between the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Fitting a two-compartment model to the recovery data predicted first order rate constants of 1.22 +/- 0.44%/min for ER --> Golgi, and 7.68 +/- 1.94%/min for Golgi --> ER transport, revealing a half-time of 113 +/- 70 min for leaving the ER and 1.67 +/- 0.45 min for leaving the Golgi, and accounting for the measured steady-state distribution of VIP36-SP-FP (13% Golgi/87% ER). Perturbing transport with AlF(4)(-) treatment altered VIP36-SP-GFP distribution and changed the rate constants. The parameters of the model suggest that relatively small differences in the first order rate constants, perhaps manifested in subtle differences in the tendency to enter distinct TCs, result in large differences in the steady-state localization of secretory components.

Cell wall alterations in the arabidopsis emb30 mutant

The Arabidopsis EMB30 gene is essential for controlling the polarity of cell growth and for normal cell adhesion during seedling development. In this article, we show that emb30 mutations also affect the growth of undifferentiated plant cells and adult tissues. EMB30 possesses a Sec7 domain and, based on similarities to other proteins, presumably functions in the secretory pathway. The plant cell wall depends on the secretory pathway to deliver its complex polysaccharides. We show that emb30 mutants have a cell wall defect that sometimes allows material to be deposited into the interstitial space between cells instead of being restricted to cell corners. In addition, pectin, a complex polysaccharide important for cell adhesion, appears to be abnormally localized in emb30 plants. In contrast, localization of epitopes associated with xyloglucan or arabinogalactan was similar in wild-type and emb30 tissues, and the localization of a marker molecule to vacuoles appeared normal. Therefore, emb30 mutations do not cause a general defect in the secretory pathway. Together, these results suggest that emb30 mutations result in an abnormal cell wall, which in turn may account for the defects in cell adhesion and polar cell growth control observed in the mutants.

Lumenal targeted GFP, used as a marker of soluble cargo, visualises rapid ERGIC to Golgi traffic by a tubulo-vesicular network

The mechanism by which soluble proteins without sorting motifs are transported to the cell surface is not clear. Here we show that soluble green fluorescent protein (GFP) targeted to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum but lacking any known retrieval, retention or targeting motifs, was accumulated in the lumen of the ERGIC if cells were kept at reduced temperature. Upon activation of anterograde transport by rewarming of cells, lumenal GFP stained a microtubule-dependent, pre-Golgi tubulo-vesicular network that served as transport structure between peripheral ERGIC-elements and the perinuclear Golgi complex. Individual examples of these tubular elements up to 20 microm in length were observed. Time lapse imaging indicated rapid anterograde flow of soluble lumenal GFP through this network. Transport tubules, stained by lumenal GFP, segregated rapidly from COPI-positive membranes after transport activation. A transmembrane cargo marker, the temperature sensitive glycoprotein of the vesicular stomatitis virus, ts-045 G, is also not present in tubules which contained the soluble cargo marker lum-GFP. These results suggest a role for pre-Golgi vesicular tubular membranes in long distance anterograde transport of soluble cargo. http://www.biologists.com/JCS/movies/jcs1334.html

Spectrin tethers and mesh in the biosynthetic pathway

The paradox of how the Golgi and other organelles can sort a continuous flux of protein and lipid but maintain temporal and morphological stability remains unresolved. Recent discoveries highlight a role for the cytoskeleton in guiding the structure and dynamics of organelles. Perhaps one of the more striking, albeit less expected, of these discoveries is the recognition that a spectrin skeleton associates with many organelles and contributes to the maintenance of Golgi structure and the efficiency of protein trafficking in the early secretory pathway. Spectrin interacts directly with phosphoinositides and with membrane proteins. The small GTPase ARF, a key player in Golgi dynamics, regulates the assembly of the Golgi spectrin skeleton through its ability to control phosphoinositide levels in Golgi membranes, whereas adapter molecules such as ankyrin link spectrin to other membrane proteins. Direct interactions of spectrin with actin and centractin (ARP1) provide a link to dynein, myosin and presumably other motors involved with intracellular transport. Building on the recognized ability of spectrin to organize macromolecular complexes of membrane and cytosolic proteins into a multifaceted scaffold linked to filamentous structural elements (termed linked mosaics), recent evidence supports a similar role for spectrin in organelle function and the secretory pathway. Two working models accommodate much of the available data: the Golgi mesh hypothesis and the spectrin ankyrin adapter protein tethering system (SAATS) hypothesis.

The secretory pathway from history to the state of the art

Maintenance of the structural and functional organization of a eucaryotic cell requires the correct targeting of proteins and lipids to their destinations. This is achieved by the delivery of newly synthesized material along the secretory pathway on one hand and by the retrieval of membranes on the other hand. Various models have been suggested over the years to explain traffic flow within the secretory pathway. The only two models that are under discussion to date are the "vesicular model" and the "cisternal maturation model". A wealth of information from various experimental approaches, strongly supports the vesicular model as the general mode of intracellular transport. Three major types of protein-coated transport vesicles are characterized in molecular detail, and have been attributed to various steps of the secretory pathway: COPII-coated vesicles allow exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), COPI-coated vesicles carry proteins within the early secretory pathway, i.e. between ER and Golgi apparatus, and clathrin-coated vesicles mediate transport from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). In this review we will give an overview of the route of a protein along the secretory pathway and summarize the progress that was made within the last decades in the characterization of distinct intracellular transport steps. We will discuss the current models for the formation and fusion of vesicular carriers with a major focus on the mechanism underlying budding of a COPI-coated vesicle.

A 56-kDa selenium-binding protein participates in intra-Golgi protein transport

Transport of proteins between intracellular membrane compartments is a highly regulated process that depends on several cytosolic factors. By using the well characterized intra-Golgi cell-free transport assay, we purified from bovine brain cytosol a 56-kDa protein that shows a significant transport activity. Partial sequencing of four tryptic peptides obtained from the 56-kDa protein revealed its identity to a cytosolic protein previously characterized as a selenium-binding protein, SBP56. Recombinant SBP56 expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited transport activity when added to the cell-free intra-Golgi transport. Affinity purified anti-SBP56 polyclonal antibodies specifically inhibited intra-Golgi transport in vitro. Although SBP56 is predominantly localized in the cytosol, a significant amount is associated with membranes. Subcellular fractionation showed that this protein is peripherally associated with the Golgi membrane. The experiments presented in this study indicate that SBP56 participates in late stages of intra-Golgi protein transport.

Traffic COPs of the early secretory pathway

Intracellular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments is mediated by coat protein complexes (COPI and COPII) that form transport vesicles and collect the desired set of cargo. Although the COPI and COPII coats are molecularly distinct, a number of mechanistic parallels appear to be emerging, most notably a general role for small guanine triphosphatases in co-ordinating coat assembly with cargo selection. A combination of morphological, biochemical, and genetic methods is revealing a very dynamic relationship between these compartments, and highlights a central role for COPs in directing traffic through the early secretory pathway. This review focuses on recent advances in molecular mechanisms underlying coated-vesicle assembly and connections with cellular structures.

Control of MHC class I traffic from the endoplasmic reticulum by cellular chaperones and viral anti-chaperones

MHC class I molecules assemble with peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To ensure that only peptide-loaded MHC molecules leave the ER, empty molecules are retained by ER-resident chaperones, most notably the MHC-specific tapasin. ER exit of class I MHC is also controlled by viruses, but for the opposite purpose of preventing peptide presentation to T cells. Interestingly, some viral proteins are able to retain MHC class I molecules in the ER despite being transported. By contrast, other viral proteins exit the ER only upon binding to class I MHC, thereby rerouting newly synthesized class I molecules to intracellular sites of proteolysis. Thus, immune escape can be achieved by reversing, inhibiting or redirecting the chaperone-assisted MHC class I folding, assembly and intracellular transport.

Identification of a lumenal sequence specifying the assembly of Emp24p into p24 complexes in the yeast secretory pathway

The p24 proteins are transmembrane proteins of the endomembrane system that play a poorly defined role in vesicle traffic between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Various lines of evidence indicate that p24 proteins fall into four subfamilies (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and that tetramers are assembled containing one representative from each subfamily; however, the nature of the protein-protein interactions within these hetero-oligomers is unknown. We have identified a lumenal segment of yeast p24beta (Emp24p) that is necessary for its assembly into p24 complexes. Replacement of 52 C-terminal residues of Emp24p with the corresponding sequence from Erv25p (p24delta) generates a chimeric protein able to replace Emp24p in p24 complexes that retain partial function in vivo, ruling out a role for the transmembrane and cytosolic domains in specifying p24 interactions. Substitution of a further 50 residues, encompassing a heptad repeat region, abolishes the ability of the chimera to replace Emp24p but instead creates a protein that resembles its Erv25p parent in its requirement for stabilization by Emp24p. These data point to a role for coiled-coil interactions in directing subfamily-specific assembly of p24 oligomers that project into the lumen of transport vesicles, where they may act to exclude secretory cargo from coat protein complex type I-coated retrograde transport vesicles.

Cytochromes P450 2C1/2 and P450 2E1 are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by different mechanisms

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 2C1/2 contains redundant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signals and is excluded from the recycling pathway. Other P450s, such as P450 2E1, have been detected in the plasma membrane and Golgi apparatus. To examine whether the mechanisms of ER retention might differ for P450 2C1/2 and P450 2E1, chimeras of green flourescent protein and the full-length proteins, N-terminal signal/anchor sequences, or the cytoplasmic catalytic domains from these proteins have been expressed in COS1 cells. Chimeras with either the N-terminal signal/anchor sequence or the cytoplasmic domain of P450 2C1/2 were retained in the ER and the distribution was not altered by treatment with nocodazole. A chimera with full-length P450 2E1 was located in the ER, but in contrast to P450 2C1/2, treatment with nocodazole resulted in redistribution to a vesicular pattern, which suggested that this protein was retained in the ER by a retrieval mechanism. In support of this possibility, the P450 2E1 chimera, but not the P450 2C1/2 chimera, was included in transport vesicles generated in an in vitro budding assay. A chimera with only the N-terminal signal/anchor sequence of P450 2E1 fused to green fluorescent protein was located in the ER and nocodazole treatment altered its distribution, whereas a chimera with only the cytoplasmic domain of P450 2E1 was not efficiently retained in the ER and accumulated primarily in the Golgi region. These results demonstrate that the mechanisms for retention in the ER of two closely related members of the P450 superfamily are different and that the N-terminal signal/anchor sequence contains the dominant retention signal.

Coat proteins regulating membrane traffic

This review focuses on the roles of coat proteins in regulating the membrane traffic of eukaryotic cells. Coat proteins are recruited to the donor organelle membrane from a cytosolic pool by specific small GTP-binding proteins and are required for the budding of coated vesicles. This review first describes the four types of coat complexes that have been characterized so far: clathrin and its adaptors, the adaptor-related AP-3 complex, COPI, and COPII. It then discusses the ascribed functions of coat proteins in vesicular transport, including the physical deformation of the membrane into a bud, the selection of cargo, and the targeting of the budded vesicle. It also mentions how the coat proteins may function in an alternative model for transport, namely via tubular connections, and how traffic is regulated. Finally, this review outlines the evidence that related coat proteins may regulate other steps of membrane traffic.

The sorting determinant guiding Hsp150 to the COPI-independent transport pathway in yeast

The COPI coatomer is thought to be required in yeast directly for retrograde transport from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and directly or indirectly for ER-to-Golgi transport. Unexpectedly, the secretory glycoproteins Hsp150 and invertase have been found not to require COPI for ER exit. The features according to which cargo proteins are selected for the COPI-independent pathway are not known. The ER form of Hsp150 has three distinct domains: an N-terminal fragment of 54 amino acids (subunit I) is followed by 11 repeats of a 19 amino acid peptide plus a unique C-terminal fragment of 114 amino acids (subunit II). By fusing heterologous proteins to different Hsp150 domains and expressing them in sec21-1 and sec21-3 mutants with temperature-sensitive mutations in the gamma-COPI subunit, we show here that the repeats of subunit II function as sorting determinants for COPI-independent ER exit. The C-terminal fragment of Hsp150 could be replaced by E. coli beta-lactamase or rat nerve growth factor receptor ectodomain (NGFRe), and subunit I could be deleted, without inhibiting COPI-independent transport. However, when the repetitive region was omitted and beta-lactamase was fused directly to the C terminus of subunit I, COPI was required for efficient ER exit. Mass spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that both subunit I and II of Hsp150 were extensively O-glycosylated, suggesting that the O-glycosylation pattern was not decisive for cargo selection.

Membrane flow through the Golgi apparatus: specific disassembly of the cis-Golgi network by ATP depletion

Incubation of NRK cells for 30 to 45 minutes with 50 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose (DOG) in glucose and pyruvate-free medium results in depletion of the cellular ATP pool and in specific disassembly of the cis-Golgi network (CGN), with the stack of Golgi cisternae (SGC) and the trans-Golgi network (TGN) remaining intact and sensitive to BFA. The disassembly of the CGN is mediated by long tubular structures extending outwards from the Golgi complex and involves microtubules. Upon removal of DOG and addition of glucose and pyruvate to the culture medium, the morphology of the CGN is slowly reestablished. Reconstruction of the CGN involves COPI/COPII-positive vesicles that resume the transport of proteins and in particular of CGN membrane proteins out of the ER. Exit of CGN membrane proteins from the ER is insensitive to BFA. In cells pretreated with nocodazole, the CGN membrane proteins are transported to the vicinity of the SGC fragments dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Ultrastructural studies of cells engaged in the reconstruction of the CGN revealed that the CGN cisterna emerge as tubular structures extending from 0.2-0.3 microm uncoated vesicles prior to their organization on the cis-side of the SGC.

Mannose-dependent endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment-53-mediated ER to Golgi trafficking of coagulation factors V and VIII

The endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) is the site of segregation of secretory proteins for anterograde transport, via packaging into COPII-coated transport vesicles. ERGIC-53 is a homo-hexameric transmembrane lectin localized to the ERGIC that exhibits mannose-selective properties in vitro. Null mutations in ERGIC-53 were recently shown to be responsible for the autosomal recessive bleeding disorder, combined deficiency of coagulation factors V and VIII. We have studied the effect of defective ER to Golgi cycling by ERGIC-53 on the secretion of factors V and VIII. The secretion efficiency of factor V and factor VIII was studied in a tetracycline-inducible HeLa cell line overexpressing a wild-type ERGIC-53 or a cytosolic tail mutant of ERGIC-53 (KKAA) that is unable to exit the ER due to mutation of two COOH-terminal phenylalanine residues to alanines. The results show that efficient trafficking of factors V and VIII requires a functional ERGIC-53 cycling pathway and that this trafficking is dependent on post-translational modification of a specific cluster of asparagine (N)-linked oligosaccharides to a fully glucose-trimmed, mannose9 structure.

Shr3p mediates specific COPII coatomer-cargo interactions required for the packaging of amino acid permeases into ER-derived transport vesicles

The SHR3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an integral membrane component of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with four membrane-spanning segments and a hydrophilic, cytoplasmically oriented carboxyl-terminal domain. Mutations in SHR3 specifically impede the transport of all 18 members of the amino acid permease (aap) gene family away from the ER. Shr3p does not itself exit the ER. Aaps fully integrate into the ER membrane and fold properly independently of Shr3p. Shr3p physically associates with the general aap Gap1p but not Sec61p, Gal2p, or Pma1p in a complex that can be purified from N-dodecylmaltoside-solubilized membranes. Pulse-chase experiments indicate that the Shr3p-Gap1p association is transient, a reflection of the exit of Gap1p from the ER. The ER-derived vesicle COPII coatomer components Sec13p, Sec23p, Sec24p, and Sec31p but not Sar1p bind Shr3p via interactions with its carboxyl-terminal domain. The mutant shr3-23p, a nonfunctional membrane-associated protein, is unable to associate with aaps but retains the capacity to bind COPII components. The overexpression of either Shr3p or shr3-23p partially suppresses the temperature-sensitive sec12-1 allele. These results are consistent with a model in which Shr3p acts as a packaging chaperone that initiates ER-derived transport vesicle formation in the proximity of aaps by facilitating the membrane association and assembly of COPII coatomer components.

Presenilin 1 controls gamma-secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein in pre-golgi compartments of hippocampal neurons

Mutations of presenilin 1 (PS1) causing Alzheimer's disease selectively increase the secretion of the amyloidogenic betaA4(1-42), whereas knocking out the gene results in decreased production of both betaA4(1-40) and (1-42) amyloid peptides (De Strooper et al. 1998). Therefore, PS1 function is closely linked to the gamma-secretase processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Given the ongoing controversy on the subcellular localization of PS1, it remains unclear at what level of the secretory and endocytic pathways PS1 exerts its activity on APP and on the APP carboxy-terminal fragments that are the direct substrates for gamma-secretase. Therefore, we have reinvestigated the subcellular localization of endogenously expressed PS1 in neurons in vitro and in vivo using confocal microscopy and fine-tuned subcellular fractionation. We show that uncleaved PS1 holoprotein is recovered in the nuclear envelope fraction, whereas the cleaved PS fragments are found mainly in post-ER membranes including the intermediate compartment (IC). PS1 is concentrated in discrete sec23p- and p58/ERGIC-53-positive patches, suggesting its localization in subdomains involved in ER export. PS1 is not found to significant amounts beyond the cis-Golgi. Surprisingly, we found that APP carboxy-terminal fragments also coenrich in the pre-Golgi membrane fractions, consistent with the idea that these fragments are the real substrates for gamma-secretase. Functional evidence that PS1 exerts its effects on gamma-secretase processing of APP in the ER/IC was obtained using a series of APP trafficking mutants. These mutants were investigated in hippocampal neurons derived from transgenic mice expressing PS1wt or PS1 containing clinical mutations (PS1(M146L) and PS1(L286V)) at physiologically relevant levels. We demonstrate that the APP-London and PS1 mutations have additive effects on the increased secretion of betaA4(1-42) relative to betaA4(1-40), indicating that both mutations operate independently. Overall, our data clearly establish that PS1 controls gamma(42)-secretase activity in pre-Golgi compartments. We discuss models that reconcile this conclusion with the effects of PS1 deficiency on the generation of betaA4(1-40) peptide in the late biosynthetic and endocytic pathways.

Protein folding in the ER

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major protein folding compartment for secreted, plasma membrane and organelle proteins. Each of these newly-synthesized polypeptides folds in a deterministic process, affected by the unique conditions that exist in the ER. An understanding of protein folding in the ER is a fundamental biomolecular challenge at two levels. The first level addresses how the amino acid sequence programs that polypeptide to efficiently arrive at a particular fold out of a multitude of alternatives, and how different sequences obtain similar folds. At the second level are the issues introduced by folding not in the cytosol, but in the ER, including the risk of aggregation in a molecularly crowded environment, accommodation of post-translational modifications and the compatibility with subsequent intracellular trafficking. This review discusses both the physicochemical and cell biological constraints of folding, which are the challenges that the ER molecular chaperones help overcome.

ERG30, a VAP-33-related protein, functions in protein transport mediated by COPI vesicles

Intracellular transport of newly synthesized and mature proteins via vesicles is controlled by a large group of proteins. Here we describe a ubiquitous rat protein-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi 30-kD protein (ERG30)-which shares structural characteristics with VAP-33, a 33-kD protein from Aplysia californica which was shown to interact with the synaptic protein VAMP. The transmembrane topology of the 30-kD ERG30 corresponds to a type II integral membrane protein, whose cytoplasmic NH(2) terminus contains a predicted coiled-coil motif. We localized ERG30 to the ER and to pre-Golgi intermediates by biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. Consistent with a role in vesicular transport, anti-ERG30 antibodies specifically inhibit intra-Golgi transport in vitro, leading to significant accumulation of COPI-coated vesicles. It appears that ERG30 functions early in the secretory pathway, probably within the Golgi and between the Golgi and the ER.

p125 is a novel mammalian Sec23p-interacting protein with structural similarity to phospholipid-modifying proteins

COPII-coated vesicles are involved in protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. COPII consists of three parts: Sar1p and the two protein complexes, Sec23p-Sec24p and Sec13p-Sec31p. Using a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein with mouse Sec23p, we identified a novel mammalian Sec23p-interacting protein, p125, which is clearly distinct from Sec24p. The N-terminal region of p125 is rich in proline residues, and the central and C-terminal regions exhibit significant homology to phospholipid-modifying proteins, especially phosphatidic acid preferring-phospholipase A1. We transiently expressed p125 and mouse Sec23p in mammalian cells and examined their interaction. The results showed that the N-terminal region of p125 is important for the interaction with Sec23p. We confirmed the interaction between the two proteins by a yeast two-hybrid assay. Overexpression of p125, like that of mammalian Sec23p, caused disorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment and Golgi apparatus, suggesting its role in the early secretory pathway.

Vesicular tubular clusters between the ER and Golgi mediate concentration of soluble secretory proteins by exclusion from COPI-coated vesicles

We have determined the concentrations of the secretory proteins amylase and chymotrypsinogen and the membrane proteins KDELr and rBet1 in COPII- and COPI-coated pre-Golgi compartments of pancreatic cells by quantitative immunoelectron microscopy. COPII was confined to ER membrane buds and adjacent vesicles. COPI occurred on vesicular tubular clusters (VTCs), Golgi cisternae, the trans-Golgi network, and immature secretory granules. Both secretory proteins exhibited a first, significant concentration step in noncoated segments of VTC tubules and were excluded from COPI-coated tips. By contrast, KDELr and rBet1 showed a first, significant concentration in COPII-coated ER buds and vesicles and were prominently present in COPI-coated tips of VTC tubules. These data suggest an important role of VTCs in soluble cargo concentration by exclusion from COPI-coated domains.

A homologue of Sar1p localises to a novel trafficking pathway in malaria-infected erythrocytes

We have identified a homologue of the GTP-binding protein, Sar1p, in Plasmodium falciparum. Sar1p is a small GTPase that is thought to play a crucial role in trafficking of proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi. The P.falciparum SAR1 gene is located on chromosome 4 and comprises two exons separated by a 508 bp intron. The deduced amino acid sequence of PfSar1p (GenBank accession number AF104306) shows 71% similarity (58% identity) to Sar1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of PfSar1p in erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum was confirmed by sequencing of a tryptic peptide derived from a polypeptide excised from an SDS-polyacrylamide gel. A recombinant protein corresponding to approximately 70% of the PfSar1p sequence was used to raise antibodies. The affinity-purified antiserum recognised a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 23 K in Western blots of malaria-infected erythrocytes but not in uninfected erythrocytes. PfSar1p was shown to be largely insoluble in non-ionic detergent and a low ionic strength buffer. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of malaria-infected erythrocytes was used to show that PfSar1p is located near the periphery of the parasite in discrete compartments, which appear to be distinct from the parasite endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, PfSar1p appears to be exported to structures outside the parasite in the erythrocyte cytoplasm. The export of PfSar1p to the erythrocyte cytosol is inhibited by treatment with brefeldin A. This provides the first evidence that the malaria parasite is capable of elaborating components of the classical vesicle-mediated trafficking machinery outside the boundaries of its own plasma membrane.

A di-acidic (DXE) code directs concentration of cargo during export from the endoplasmic reticulum

Efficient export of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G), a type I transmembrane protein, from the endoplasmic reticulum requires a di-acidic code (DXE) located in the cytosolic carboxyl-terminal tail (Nishimura, N., and Balch, W. E. (1997) Science 277, 556-558). Mutation of the DXE code by mutation to AXA did not prevent VSV-G recruitment to pre-budding complexes formed in the presence of the activated form of the Sar1 and the Sec23/24 complex, components of the COPII budding machinery. However, the signal was required at a subsequent concentration step preceding vesicle fission. By using green fluorescence protein-tagged VSV-G to image movement in a single cell, we found that VSV-G lacking the DXE code fails to be concentrated into COPII vesicles. As a result, the normal 5-10-fold increase in the steady-state concentration of VSV-G in downstream pre-Golgi intermediates and Golgi compartments was lost. These results demonstrate for the first time that inactivation of the DXE signal uncouples early cargo selection steps from concentration into COPII vesicles. We propose that two sequential steps are required for efficient export from the endoplasmic reticulum.

A comparison of viral immune escape strategies targeting the MHC class I assembly pathway

Peptide fragments from proteins of intracellular pathogens such as viruses are displayed at the cell surface by MHC class I molecules thus enabling surveillance by cytotoxic T cells. Peptides are produced in the cytosol by proteasomal degradation and translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum by the peptide transporter TAP. Empty MHC class I molecules associate with TAP prior to their acquisition of peptides, a process which is assisted and controlled by a series of chaperones. The first part of this review summarizes our current knowledge of this assembly pathway and describes recent observations that tapasin functions as an endoplasmic reticulum retention molecule for empty MHC class I molecules. To defeat the presentation of virus-derived peptides, several DNA viruses have devised strategies to interfere with MHC class I assembly. Although these evasion strategies have evolved independently and differ mechanistically they often target the same step in this pathway. We compare escape mechanisms of different viruses with particular emphasis on the retention of newly synthesized MHC class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum and the inhibition of peptide transport by viral proteins.

Hypothetical protein KIAA0079 is a mammalian homologue of yeast Sec24p

The Sec23p-Sec24p complex is a component of COPII-coated vesicles that mediate protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum in yeast. The mammalian hypothetical protein KIAA0079 (KIAA0079p) exhibits sequence similarity to yeast Sec24p. KIAA0079p was co-eluted with mammalian Sec23p on gel filtration. In vitro binding experiments revealed that the C-terminal region of KIAA0079p binds to the N-terminal region of mammalian Sec23p. Overexpression of KIAA0079p caused a defect in protein export from the endoplasmic reticulum. These results support the idea that KIAA0079p is a functional homologue of yeast Sec24p.