A novel role for dp115 in the organization of tER sites in Drosophila

Major changes in domain arrangements are associated with the evolution of termites

Domains as functional protein units and their rearrangements along the phylogeny can shed light on the functional changes of proteomes associated with the evolution of complex traits like eusociality. This complex trait is associated with sterile soldiers and workers, and long-lived, highly fecund reproductives. Unlike in Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps), the evolution of eusociality within Blattodea, where termites evolved from within cockroaches, was accompanied by a reduction in proteome size, raising the question of whether functional novelty was achieved with existing rather than novel proteins. To address this, we investigated the role of domain rearrangements during the evolution of termite eusociality. Analysing domain rearrangements in the proteomes of three solitary cockroaches and five eusocial termites, we inferred more than 5,000 rearrangements over the phylogeny of Blattodea. The 90 novel domain arrangements that emerged at the origin of termites were enriched for several functions related to longevity, such as protein homeostasis, DNA repair, mitochondrial activity, and nutrient sensing. Many domain rearrangements were related to changes in developmental pathways, important for the emergence of novel castes. Along with the elaboration of social complexity, including permanently sterile workers and larger, foraging colonies, we found 110 further domain arrangements with functions related to protein glycosylation and ion transport. We found an enrichment of caste-biased expression and splicing within rearranged genes, highlighting their importance for the evolution of castes. Furthermore, we found increased levels of DNA methylation among rearranged compared to non-rearranged genes suggesting fundamental differences in their regulation. Our findings indicate the importance of domain rearrangements in the generation of functional novelty necessary for termite eusociality to evolve.

A feedforward loop between JAK/STAT downstream target p115 and STAT in germline stem cells

The maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) is essential for tissue homeostasis. JAK/STAT signaling maintains GSC fate in Drosophila testis. However, how JAK/STAT signaling maintains male GSC fate through its downstream targets remains poorly understood. Here, we identify p115, a tER/cis-Golgi golgin protein, as a putative downstream target of JAK/STAT signaling. p115 maintains GSC fate independent of GM130 and GRASP65. p115 localizes in cytosol, the ER and Golgi apparatus in germline cells and is required for the morphology of the ER and Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, depletion of p115 in GSCs results in aberrant spindle orientation. Mechanistically, p115 associates with and stabilizes STAT. Finally, ectopic expression of STAT completely restores GSC loss caused by p115 depletion. Collectively, JAK/STAT signaling and p115 form a feedforward loop to maintain male GSC fate. Our work provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of how stem cell maintenance is properly controlled by JAK/STAT signaling.

Systematic analysis of the sphingomyelin synthase family in C. elegans

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major component of mammalian cell membranes and particularly abundant in the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. Its production is catalyzed by SM synthases SMS1 and SMS2, which interconvert phosphatidylcholine and ceramide to diacylglycerol and SM in the Golgi and at the plasma membrane, respectively. As the lipids participating in this reaction fulfill both structural and signaling functions, SMS enzymes have considerable potential to influence diverse important cellular processes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an attractive model for studying both animal development and human disease. The organism contains five SMS homologues but none of these have been characterized in any detail. Here, we carried out the first systematic analysis of SMS family members in C. elegans . Using heterologous expression systems, genetic ablation, metabolic labeling and lipidome analyses, we show that C. elegans harbors at least three distinct SM synthases and one ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE) synthase. Moreover, C. elegans SMS family members have partially overlapping but also unique subcellular distributions and together occupy all principal compartments of the secretory pathway. Our findings shed light on crucial aspects of sphingolipid metabolism in a valuable animal model and opens avenues for exploring the role of SM and its metabolic intermediates in organismal development.

Atypical Legionella GTPase effector hijacks host vesicular transport factor p115 to regulate host lipid droplet

The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila uses hundreds of effector proteins to manipulate multiple processes of the host cells to establish a replicative niche known as Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Biogenesis of the LCV has been known to depend on host small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), but whether bacterial effector GTPases are also involved remains unknown. Here, we show that an ankyrin repeat containing effector LegA15 localizes directly in host lipid droplets (LDs), leading to Golgi apparatus fragmentation of the host cells by hijacking the host vesicular transport factor p115. LegA15 is a GTPase with a unique catalytic mechanism, unlike any eukaryotic small GTPases. Moreover, the effector LegA15 co-opts p115 to modulate homeostasis of the host LDs in its GTPase-dependent manner. Together, our data reveal that an atypical GTPase effector regulates the host LDs through impeding the vesicle secretion system of the host cells for intracellular life cycle of Legionella.

Stress-induced phase separation of ERES components into Sec bodies precedes ER exit inhibition in mammalian cells

Phase separation of components of ER exit sites (ERES) into membraneless compartments, the Sec bodies, occurs in Drosophila cells upon exposure to specific cellular stressors, namely, salt stress and amino acid starvation, and their formation is linked to the early secretory pathway inhibition. Here, we show Sec bodies also form in secretory mammalian cells upon the same stress. These reversible and membraneless structures are positive for ERES components, including both Sec16A and Sec16B isoforms and COPII subunits. We find that Sec16A, but not Sec16B, is a driver for Sec body formation, and that the coalescence of ERES components into Sec bodies occurs by fusion. Finally, we show that the stress-induced coalescence of ERES components into Sec bodies precedes ER exit inhibition, leading to their progressive depletion from ERES that become non-functional. Stress relief causes an immediate dissolution of Sec bodies and the concomitant restoration of ER exit. We propose that the dynamic conversion between ERES and Sec body assembly, driven by Sec16A, regulates protein exit from the ER during stress and upon stress relief in mammalian cells, thus providing a conserved pro-survival mechanism in response to stress.

ER exit sites in Drosophila display abundant ER-Golgi vesicles and pearled tubes but no megacarriers

Secretory cargos are collected at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites (ERES) before transport to the Golgi apparatus. Decades of research have provided many details of the molecular events underlying ER-Golgi exchanges. Essential questions, however, remain about the organization of the ER-Golgi interface in cells and the type of membrane structures mediating traffic from ERES. To investigate these, we use transgenic tagging in Drosophila flies, 3D-structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to characterize ERES-Golgi units in collagen-producing fat body, imaginal discs, and imaginal discs overexpressing ERES determinant Tango1. Facing ERES, we find a pre-cis-Golgi region, equivalent to the vertebrate ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), involved in both anterograde and retrograde transport. This pre-cis-Golgi is continuous with the rest of the Golgi, not a separate compartment or collection of large carriers, for which we find no evidence. We observe, however, many vesicles, as well as pearled tubules connecting ERES and Golgi.

Activation of salt Inducible Kinases, IRE1 and PERK leads to Sec bodies formation in Drosophila S2 cells

The phase separation of the non-membrane bound Sec bodies occurs in Drosophila S2 cells by coalescence of components of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites under the stress of amino acid starvation. Here, we address which signaling pathways cause Sec body formation and find that two pathways are critical. The first is the activation of the salt-inducible kinases (SIKs; SIK2 and SIK3) by Na⁺ stress, which, when it is strong, is sufficient. The second is activation of IRE1 and PERK (also known as PEK in flies) downstream of ER stress induced by the absence of amino acids, which needs to be combined with moderate salt stress to induce Sec body formation. SIK, and IRE1 and PERK activation appear to potentiate each other through the stimulation of the unfolded protein response, a key parameter in Sec body formation. This work shows the role of SIKs in phase transition and re-enforces the role of IRE1 and PERK as a metabolic sensor for the level of circulating amino acids and salt.

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

Summary: In S2 cells, the phase-separated Sec bodies form upon the combined activation of salt-inducible kinases, IRE1 and PERK.

Hherisomes, Hedgehog specialized recycling endosomes, are required for high level Hedgehog signaling and tissue growth

In metazoans, tissue growth and patterning is partly controlled by the Hedgehog (Hh) morphogen. Using immuno-electron microscopy on Drosophila wing imaginal discs, we identified a cellular structure, the Hherisomes, which contain the majority of intracellular Hh. Hherisomes are recycling tubular endosomes, and their formation is specifically boosted by overexpression of Hh. Expression of Rab11, a small GTPase involved in recycling endosomes, boosts the size of Hherisomes and their Hh concentration. Conversely, increased expression of the transporter Dispatched, a regulator of Hh secretion, leads to their clearance. We show that increasing Hh density in Hherisomes through Rab11 overexpression enhances both the level of Hh signaling and disc pouch growth, whereas Dispatched overexpression decreases high-level Hh signaling and growth. We propose that, upon secretion, a pool of Hh triggers low-level signaling, whereas a second pool of Hh is endocytosed and recycled through Hherisomes to stimulate high-level signaling and disc pouch growth. Altogether, our data indicate that Hherisomes are required to sustain physiological Hh activity necessary for patterning and tissue growth in the wing disc.

The surface of lipid droplets constitutes a barrier for endoplasmic reticulum-resident integral membrane proteins

Lipid droplets (LDs) are globular subcellular structures that store neutral lipids. LDs are closely associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are limited by a phospholipid monolayer harboring a specific set of proteins. Most of these proteins associate with LDs through either an amphipathic helix or a membrane-embedded hairpin motif. Here, we address the question of whether integral membrane proteins can localize to the surface of LDs. To test this, we fused perilipin 3 (PLIN3), a mammalian LD-targeted protein, to ER-resident proteins. The resulting fusion proteins localized to the periphery of LDs in both yeast and mammalian cells. This peripheral LD localization of the fusion proteins, however, was due to a redistribution of the ER around LDs, as revealed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation between ER- and LD-localized partners. A LD-tethering function of PLIN3-containing membrane proteins was confirmed by fusing PLIN3 to the cytoplasmic domain of an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, OM14. Expression of OM14-PLIN3 induced a close apposition between LDs and mitochondria. These data indicate that the ER-LD junction constitutes a barrier for ER-resident integral membrane proteins.

Sec71 separates Golgi stacks in Drosophila S2 cells

Golgi stacks are the basic structural units of the Golgi. Golgi stacks are separated from each other and scattered in the cytoplasm of Drosophila cells. Here, we report that the ARF-GEF inhibitor Brefeldin A (BFA) induces the formation of BFA bodies, which are aggregates of Golgi stacks, trans-Golgi networks and recycling endosomes. Recycling endosomes are located in the centers of BFA bodies, while Golgi stacks surround them on their trans sides. Live imaging of S2 cells revealed that Golgi stacks repeatedly merged and separated on their trans sides, and BFA caused successive merger by inhibiting separation, forming BFA bodies. S2 cells carrying genome-edited BFA-resistant mutant Sec71M717L did not form BFA bodies at high concentrations of BFA; S2 cells carrying genome-edited BFA-hypersensitive mutant Sec71F713Y produced BFA bodies at low concentrations of BFA. These results indicate that Sec71 is the sole BFA target for BFA body formation and controls Golgi stack separation. Finally, we showed that impairment of Sec71 in fly photoreceptors induces BFA body formation, with accumulation of both apical and basolateral cargoes, resulting in inhibition of polarized transport.

CHC22 clathrin mediates traffic from early secretory compartments for human GLUT4 pathway biogenesis

Blood glucose clearance relies on insulin-stimulated exocytosis of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from sites of sequestration in muscle and fat. This work demonstrates that, in humans, CHC22 clathrin controls GLUT4 traffic from the ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment to sites of sequestration during GLUT4 pathway biogenesis.

Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is sequestered inside muscle and fat and then released by vesicle traffic to the cell surface in response to postprandial insulin for blood glucose clearance. Here, we map the biogenesis of this GLUT4 traffic pathway in humans, which involves clathrin isoform CHC22. We observe that GLUT4 transits through the early secretory pathway more slowly than the constitutively secreted GLUT1 transporter and localize CHC22 to the ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). CHC22 functions in transport from the ERGIC, as demonstrated by an essential role in forming the replication vacuole of Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which requires ERGIC-derived membrane. CHC22 complexes with ERGIC tether p115, GLUT4, and sortilin, and downregulation of either p115 or CHC22, but not GM130 or sortilin, abrogates insulin-responsive GLUT4 release. This indicates that CHC22 traffic initiates human GLUT4 sequestration from the ERGIC and defines a role for CHC22 in addition to retrograde sorting of GLUT4 after endocytic recapture, enhancing pathways for GLUT4 sequestration in humans relative to mice, which lack CHC22.

Dynamic Capture and Release of Endoplasmic Reticulum Exit Sites by Golgi Stacks in Arabidopsis

Protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi stacks is mediated by the coat protein complex COPII, which is assembled at an ER subdomain called ER exit site (ERES). However, the dynamic relationship between ERESs and Golgi stacks is unknown. Here, we propose a dynamic capture-and-release model of ERESs by Golgi stacks in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using variable-angle epifluorescence microscopy with high-temporal-resolution imaging, COPII-component-bound ERESs were detected as punctate structures with sizes of 300–500 nm. Some punctate ERESs are distributed on ER tubules and sheet rims, whereas others gather around a Golgi stack in an ER-network cavity to form a beaded-ring structure. Free ERESs that wander into an ER cavity are captured by a Golgi stack in a cytoskeleton-independent manner. Then, they are released by the Golgi stack for recycling. The dynamic ERES cycling might contribute to efficient transfer of de novo synthesized cargo proteins from the ER to Golgi stacks.

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VAEM images show dynamic behavior of minimal punctate ERESs

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Most of punctate ERESs are distributed on the ER network tubes

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Several punctate ERESs contact with a Golgi stack in an ER network cavity

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ERESs are dynamically captured and released by Golgi stacks

Golgi Outposts Locally Regulate Microtubule Orientation in Neurons but Are Not Required for the Overall Polarity of the Dendritic Cytoskeleton

Microtubule-organizing centers often play a central role in organizing the cellular microtubule networks that underlie cell function. In neurons, microtubules in axons and dendrites have distinct polarities. Dendrite-specific Golgi "outposts," in particular multicompartment outposts, have emerged as regulators of acentrosomal microtubule growth, raising the question of whether outposts contribute to establishing or maintaining the overall polarity of the dendritic microtubule cytoskeleton. Using a combination of genetic approaches and live imaging in a Drosophila model, we found that dendritic microtubule polarity is unaffected by eliminating known regulators of Golgi-dependent microtubule organization including the cis-Golgi matrix protein GM130, the fly AKAP450 ortholog pericentrin-like protein, and centrosomin. This indicates that Golgi outposts are not essential for the formation or maintenance of a dendrite-specific cytoskeleton. However, the overexpression of GM130, which promotes the formation of ectopic multicompartment units, is sufficient to alter dendritic microtubule polarity. Axonal microtubule polarity is similarly disrupted by the presence of ectopic multicompartment Golgi outposts. Notably, multicompartment outposts alter microtubule polarity independently of microtubule nucleation mediated by the γ-tubulin ring complex. Thus, although Golgi outposts are not essential to dendritic microtubule polarity, altering their organization correlates with changes to microtubule polarity. Based on these data, we propose that the organization of Golgi outposts is carefully regulated to ensure proper dendritic microtubule polarity.

The Physiological Functions of the Golgin Vesicle Tethering Proteins

The golgins comprise a family of vesicle tethering proteins that act in a selective manner to tether transport vesicles at the Golgi apparatus. Tethering is followed by membrane fusion to complete the delivery of vesicle-bound cargo to the Golgi. Different golgins are localized to different regions of the Golgi, and their ability to selectively tether transport vesicles is important for the specificity of vesicle traffic in the secretory pathway. In recent years, our mechanistic understanding of golgin-mediated tethering has greatly improved. We are also beginning to appreciate how the loss of golgin function can impact upon physiological processes through the use of animal models and the study of human disease. These approaches have revealed that loss of a golgin causes tissue-restricted phenotypes, which can vary in severity and the cell types affected. In many cases, it is possible to attribute these phenotypes to a defect in vesicular traffic, although why certain tissues are sensitive to loss of a particular golgin is still, in most cases, unclear. Here, I will summarize recent progress in our understanding of golgins, focusing on the physiological roles of these proteins, as determined from animal models and the study of disease in humans. I will describe what these in vivo analyses have taught us, as well as highlight less understood aspects, and areas for future investigations.

Role of Intracellular Transport in the Centriole-Dependent Formation of Golgi Ribbon

The intracellular transport is the most confusing issue in the field of cell biology. The Golgi complex (GC) is the central station along the secretory pathway. It contains Golgi glycosylation enzymes, which are responsible for protein and lipid glycosylation, and in many cells, it is organized into a ribbon. Position and structure of the GC depend on the position and function of the centriole. Here, we analyze published data related to the role of centriole and intracellular transport (ICT) for the formation of Golgi ribbon and specifically stress the importance of the delivery of membranes containing cargo and membrane proteins to the cell centre where centriole/centrosome is localized. Additionally, we re-examined the formation of Golgi ribbon from the point of view of different models of ICT.

Rab-mediated trafficking in the secondary cells of Drosophila male accessory glands and its role in fecundity

The male seminal fluid contains factors that affect female post‐mating behavior and physiology. In Drosophila, most of these factors are secreted by the two epithelial cell types that make up the male accessory gland: the main and secondary cells. Although secondary cells represent only ~4% of the cells of the accessory gland, their contribution to the male seminal fluid is essential for sustaining the female post‐mating response. To better understand the function of the secondary cells, we investigated their molecular organization, particularly with respect to the intracellular membrane transport machinery. We determined that large vacuole‐like structures found in the secondary cells are trafficking hubs labeled by Rab6, 7, 11 and 19. Furthermore, these organelles require Rab6 for their formation and many are essential in the process of creating the long‐term postmating behavior of females. In order to better serve the intracellular membrane and protein trafficking communities, we have created a searchable, online, open‐access imaging resource to display our complete findings regarding Rab localization in the accessory gland.

Phospho-Rasputin Stabilization by Sec16 Is Required for Stress Granule Formation upon Amino Acid Starvation

Most cellular stresses induce protein translation inhibition and stress granule formation. Here, using Drosophila S2 cells, we investigate the role of G3BP/Rasputin in this process. In contrast to arsenite treatment, where dephosphorylated Ser142 Rasputin is recruited to stress granules, we find that, upon amino acid starvation, only the phosphorylated Ser142 form is recruited. Furthermore, we identify Sec16, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum exit site, as a Rasputin interactor and stabilizer. Sec16 depletion results in Rasputin degradation and inhibition of stress granule formation. However, in the absence of Sec16, pharmacological stabilization of Rasputin is not enough to rescue the assembly of stress granules. This is because Sec16 specifically interacts with phosphorylated Ser142 Rasputin, the form required for stress granule formation upon amino acid starvation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that stress granule formation is fine-tuned by specific signaling cues that are unique to each stress. These results also expand the role of Sec16 as a stress response protein.

Drosophila p115 is required for Cdk1 activation and G2/M cell cycle transition

Golgi complex inheritance and its relationship with the cell cycle are central in cell biology. Golgi matrix proteins, known as golgins, are one of the components that underlie the shape and functionality of this organelle. In mammalian cells, golgins are phosphorylated during mitosis to allow fragmentation of the Golgi ribbon and they also participate in spindle dynamics; both processes are required for cell cycle progression. Little is known about the function of golgins during mitosis in metazoans in vivo. This is particularly significant in Drosophila, in which the Golgi architecture is distributed in numerous units scattered throughout the cytoplasm, in contrast with mammalian cells. We examined the function of the ER/cis-Golgi golgin p115 during the proliferative phase of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc. Knockdown of p115 decreased tissue size. This phenotype was not caused by programmed cell death or cell size reductions, but by a reduction in the final cell number due to an accumulation of cells at the G2/M transition. This phenomenon frequently allows mitotic bypass and re-replication of DNA. These outcomes are similar to those observed following the partial loss of function of positive regulators of Cdk1 in Drosophila. In agreement with this, Cdk1 activation was reduced upon p115 knockdown. Interestingly, these phenotypes were fully rescued by Cdk1 overexpression and partially rescued by Myt1 depletion, but not by String (also known as Cdc25) overexpression. Additionally, we confirmed the physical interaction between p115 and Cdk1, suggesting that the formation of a complex where both proteins are present is essential for the full activation of Cdk1 and thus the correct progression of mitosis in proliferating tissues.

In vivo vizualisation of mono-ADP-ribosylation by dPARP16 upon amino-acid starvation

PARP catalysed ADP-ribosylation is a post-translational modification involved in several physiological and pathological processes, including cellular stress. In order to visualise both Poly-, and Mono-, ADP-ribosylation in vivo, we engineered specific fluorescent probes. Using them, we show that amino-acid starvation triggers an unprecedented display of mono-ADP-ribosylation that governs the formation of Sec body, a recently identified stress assembly that forms in Drosophila cells. We show that dPARP16 catalytic activity is necessary and sufficient for both amino-acid starvation induced mono-ADP-ribosylation and subsequent Sec body formation and cell survival. Importantly, dPARP16 catalyses the modification of Sec16, a key Sec body component, and we show that it is a critical event for the formation of this stress assembly. Taken together our findings establish a novel example for the role of mono-ADP-ribosylation in the formation of stress assemblies, and link this modification to a metabolic stress.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21475.001

The roles of Syx5 in Golgi morphology and Rhodopsin transport in Drosophila photoreceptors

SNAREs (SNAP receptors) are the key components of protein complexes that drive membrane fusion. Here, we report the function of a SNARE, Syntaxin 5 (Syx5), in the development of photoreceptors in Drosophila. In wild-type photoreceptors, Syx5 localizes to cis-Golgi, along with cis-Golgi markers: Rab1 and GM130. We observed that Syx5-deficient photoreceptors show notable accumulation of these cis-Golgi markers accompanying drastic accumulation of vesicles between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi cisternae. Extensive analysis of Rh1 (rhodopsin 1) trafficking revealed that in Syx5-deficient photoreceptors, Rh1 is exported from the ER with normal kinetics, retained in the cis-Golgi region along with GM130 for a prolonged period, and then subsequently degraded presumably by endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) after retrieval to the ER. Unlike our previous report of Rab6-deficient photoreceptors – where two apical transport pathways are specifically inhibited – vesicle transport pathways to all plasma membrane domains are inhibited in Syx5-deficient photoreceptors, implying that Rab6 and Syx5 are acting in different steps of intra-Golgi transport. These results indicate that Syx5 is crucial for membrane protein transport, presumably during ER-derived vesicle fusion to form cis-Golgi cisternae.

Summary: Unlike Rab6-deficiency which affects only apical transport pathways, Syx5-deficiency inhibits all of polarized transport pathways, implying that these two genes are working in distinct stages of intra-Golgi transport.

An antibody toolkit for the study of membrane traffic in Drosophila melanogaster

The use of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism has been pivotal to understanding the developmental processes of metazoans. However, the use of flies for studying subcellular organization is hampered by a paucity of reliable reagents to label specific organelles. Here, we describe the generation of mouse monoclonal antibodies against a set of markers of the secretory and endocytic pathways, along with goat polyclonal antibodies against two Golgi proteins. We show that the monoclonal antibodies are highly specific and sufficiently sensitive to detect endogenous proteins in crude extracts by immunoblotting with little background staining. By immunofluorescence the major compartments of the membrane traffic system (including the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi, and early and late endosomes) are labeled by at least one antibody. Moreover, the antibodies can be used to label organelles in fly tissues including salivary glands and wing imaginal discs. We anticipate that these antibodies will provide a useful tool kit to facilitate the investigation of how the endomembrane system functions and varies in the diverse tissue types of metazoans.

Summary: We report the generation and characterization of set of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for labeling the major compartments of the secretory and endocytic pathways in Drosophila melanogaster.

Functional and Genetic Analysis of Spectraplakins in Drosophila

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of filamentous protein polymers required for virtually all cellular processes. It consists of three major classes, filamentous actin (F-actin), intermediate filaments, and microtubules, all displaying characteristic structural properties, functions, cellular distributions, and sets of interacting regulatory proteins. One unique class of proteins, the spectraplakins, bind, regulate, and integrate the functions of all three classes of cytoskeleton proteins. Spectraplakins are giant, evolutionary conserved multidomain proteins (spanning up to 9000 aa) that are true members of the plakin, spectrin, and Gas2-like protein families. They have OMIM-listed disease links to epidermolysis bullosa and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. Their role in disease is likely underrepresented since studies in model animal systems have revealed critical roles in polarity, morphogenesis, differentiation and maintenance, migration, signaling, and intracellular trafficking in a variety of tissues. This enormous diversity of spectraplakin function is consistent with the numerous isoforms produced from single genomic loci that combine different sets of functional domains in distinct cellular contexts. To study the broad range of functions and complexity of these proteins, Drosophila is a powerful model. Thus, the fly spectraplakin Short stop (Shot) acts as an actin-microtubule linker and plays important roles in many developmental processes, which provide experimentally amenable and relevant contexts in which to study spectraplakin functions. For these studies, a versatile range of relevant experimental resources that facilitate genetics and transgenic approaches, highly refined genomics tools, and an impressive set of spectraplakin-specific genetic and molecular tools are readily available. Here, we use the example of Shot to illustrate how the various tools and strategies available for Drosophila can be employed to decipher and dissect cellular roles and molecular mechanisms of spectraplakins.

TORC2 mediates the heat stress response in Drosophila by promoting the formation of stress granules

The kinase TOR is found in two complexes, TORC1, which is involved in growth control, and TORC2, whose roles are less well defined. Here, we asked whether TORC2 has a role in sustaining cellular stress. We show that TORC2 inhibition in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a reduced tolerance to heat stress, whereas sensitivity to other stresses is not affected. Accordingly, we show that upon heat stress, both in the animal and Drosophila cultured S2 cells, TORC2 is activated and is required for maintaining the level of its known target, Akt1 (also known as PKB). We show that the phosphorylation of the stress-activated protein kinases is not modulated by TORC2 nor is the heat-induced upregulation of heat-shock proteins. Instead, we show, both in vivo and in cultured cells, that TORC2 is required for the assembly of heat-induced cytoprotective ribonucleoprotein particles, the pro-survival stress granules. These granules are formed in response to protein translation inhibition imposed by heat stress that appears to be less efficient in the absence of TORC2 function. We propose that TORC2 mediates heat resistance in Drosophila by promoting the cell autonomous formation of stress granules.

A novel tropomyosin isoform functions at the mitotic spindle and Golgi in Drosophila

Most eukaryotic cells express multiple isoforms of the actin-binding protein tropomyosin that help construct a variety of cytoskeletal networks. Only one nonmuscle tropomyosin (Tm1A) has previously been described in Drosophila, but developmental defects caused by insertion of P-elements near tropomyosin genes imply the existence of additional, nonmuscle isoforms. Using biochemical and molecular genetic approaches, we identified three tropomyosins expressed in Drosophila S2 cells: Tm1A, Tm1J, and Tm2A. The Tm1A isoform localizes to the cell cortex, lamellar actin networks, and the cleavage furrow of dividing cells--always together with myosin-II. Isoforms Tm1J and Tm2A colocalize around the Golgi apparatus with the formin-family protein Diaphanous, and loss of either isoform perturbs cell cycle progression. During mitosis, Tm1J localizes to the mitotic spindle, where it promotes chromosome segregation. Using chimeras, we identified the determinants of tropomyosin localization near the C-terminus. This work 1) identifies and characterizes previously unknown nonmuscle tropomyosins in Drosophila, 2) reveals a function for tropomyosin in the mitotic spindle, and 3) uncovers sequence elements that specify isoform-specific localizations and functions of tropomyosin.

The Road not Taken: Less Traveled Roads from the TGN to the Plasma Membrane

The trans-Golgi network functions in the distribution of cargo into different transport vesicles that are destined to endosomes, lysosomes and the plasma membrane. Over the years, it has become clear that more than one transport pathway promotes plasma membrane localization of proteins. In spite of the importance of temporal and spatial control of protein localization at the plasma membrane, the regulation of sorting into and the formation of different transport containers are still poorly understood. In this review different transport pathways, with a special emphasis on exomer-dependent transport, and concepts of regulation and sorting at the TGN are discussed.

The golgin GMAP-210 is required for efficient membrane trafficking in the early secretory pathway

Golgins are coiled-coil proteins that participate in membrane-tethering events at the Golgi complex. Golgin-mediated tethering is thought to be important for vesicular trafficking and Golgi organization. However, the degree to which individual golgins contribute to these processes is poorly defined, and it has been proposed that golgins act in a largely redundant manner. Previous studies on the golgin GMAP-210 (also known as TRIP11), which is mutated in the rare skeletal disorder achondrogenesis type 1A, have yielded conflicting results regarding its involvement in trafficking. Here, we re-investigated the trafficking role of GMAP-210, and found that it is indeed required for efficient trafficking in the secretory pathway. GMAP-210 acts at both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and Golgi complex during anterograde trafficking, and is also required for retrograde trafficking to the ER. Using co-depletion experiments, we also found that GMAP-210 acts in a partially redundant manner with the golgin GM130 to ensure efficient anterograde cargo delivery to the cis-Golgi. In summary, our results indicate a role for GMAP-210 in several trafficking steps at the ER–Golgi interface, some of which are partially redundant with another golgin, namely GM130 (also known as GOLGA2).

p115-SNARE interactions: a dynamic cycle of p115 binding monomeric SNARE motifs and releasing assembled bundles

Tethering factors regulate the targeting of membrane-enclosed vesicles under the control of Rab GTPases. p115, a golgin family tether, has been shown to participate in multiple stages of ER/Golgi transport. Despite extensive study, the mechanism of action of p115 is poorly understood. SNARE proteins make up the machinery for membrane fusion, and strong evidence shows that function of p115 is directly linked to its interaction with SNAREs. Using a gel filtration binding assay, we have demonstrated that in solution p115 stably interacts with ER/Golgi SNAREs rbet1 and sec22b, but not membrin and syntaxin 5. These binding preferences stemmed from selectivity of p115 for monomeric SNARE motifs as opposed to SNARE oligomers. Soluble monomeric rbet1 can compete off p115 from coat protein II (COPII) vesicles. Furthermore, excess p115 inhibits p115 function in trafficking. We conclude that monomeric SNAREs are a major binding site for p115 on COPII vesicles, and that p115 dissociates from its SNARE partners upon SNAREpin assembly. Our results suggest a model in which p115 forms a mixed p115/SNARE helix bundle with a monomeric SNARE, facilitates the binding activity and/or concentration of the SNARE at prefusion sites and is subsequently ejected as SNARE complex formation and fusion proceed.

Intracellular parcel service: current issues in intracellular membrane trafficking

Eukaryotic cells contain a multitude of membrane structures that are connected through a highly dynamic and complex exchange of their constituents. The vibrant instability of these structures challenges the classical view of defined, static compartments that are connected by different types of vesicles. Despite this astonishing complexity, proteins and lipids are accurately transported into the different intracellular membrane systems. Over the past few decades many factors have been identified that either mediate or regulate intracellular membrane trafficking. Like in a modern parcel sorting system of a logistics center, the cargo typically passes through several sequential sorting stations until it finally reaches the location that is specified by its individual address label. While each membrane system employs specific sets of factors, the transport processes typically operate on common principles. With the advent of genome- and proteome-wide screens, the availability of mutant collections, exciting new developments in microscope technology and sophisticated methods to study their dynamics, the future promises a broad and comprehensive picture of the processes by which eukaryotic cells sort their proteins.

A stress assembly that confers cell viability by preserving ERES components during amino-acid starvation

Nutritional restriction leads to protein translation attenuation that results in the storage and degradation of free mRNAs in cytoplasmic assemblies. In this study, we show in Drosophila S2 cells that amino-acid starvation also leads to the inhibition of another major anabolic pathway, the protein transport through the secretory pathway, and to the formation of a novel reversible non-membrane bound stress assembly, the Sec body that incorporates components of the ER exit sites. Sec body formation does not depend on membrane traffic in the early secretory pathway, yet requires both Sec23 and Sec24AB. Sec bodies have liquid droplet-like properties, and they act as a protective reservoir for ERES components to rebuild a functional secretory pathway after re-addition of amino-acids acting as a part of a survival mechanism. Taken together, we propose that the formation of these structures is a novel stress response mechanism to provide cell viability during and after nutrient stress.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04132.001

Proteins are needed by living cells to perform vital tasks and are made from building blocks called amino-acids. However, if a cell is starved of amino-acids, protein assembly comes to a halt, and if cells are deprived of amino acids for a long time, the cell may die.

To survive short periods of amino-acid starvation, the cell has developed many protective mechanisms. For example, it can start to break down existing proteins, allowing the cell to scavenge and reuse the amino-acids to make other proteins that are more important for short-term survival. The cell may also temporarily halt certain processes: for example, newly constructed proteins may no longer be transported from the cell structure where they are made—called the endoplasmic reticulum—to their final destinations in the cell. However, the protein transport apparatus is also made of proteins and needs to be protected from being broken down so that once starvation ends, the cell can more quickly return to normal working order.

Zacharogianni et al. identify a strategy cells use to store and protect part of their protein transport apparatus during times of stress. Starving fruit fly cells of amino-acids causes the cells to form protective stress assemblies incorporating the proteins associated with the ‘exit sites’ that release proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. These assemblies are called Sec bodies, and when amino-acid starvation ends, these bodies release the exit site components unharmed. This allows the cell to quickly resume protein transport and so speeds the cell's recovery. If the Sec bodies do not form, the cells are more likely to die during amino-acid starvation.

The Sec bodies are distinct from previously identified stress assemblies that form in the cell during stress, but they share features with them, such as being liquid droplets. Some of these assemblies have been linked to degenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Further research will be necessary to determine if there are any similar harmful side effects associated with the formation of Sec bodies.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04132.002

The Garz Sec7 domain guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Arf regulates salivary gland development in Drosophila

Surface delivery of proteins involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in cultured mammalian cells requires the GBF1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor. However, the role of GBF1 in delivery of adhesion proteins during organogenesis in intact animals has not been characterized. Here, we report the function of the fly GBF1 homolog, Gartenzwerg (Garz) in the development of the salivary gland in Drosophila melanogaster. We used the GAL4/UAS system to selectively deplete Garz from salivary gland cells. We show that depletion of Garz disrupts the secretory pathway as evidenced by the collapse of Golgi-localized Lava lamp (Lva) and the TGN-localized γ subunit of the clathrin-adaptor protein complex (AP-1). Additionally, Garz depletion inhibits trafficking of cell-cell adhesion proteins cadherin (DE-cad) and Flamingo to the cell surface. Disregulation of trafficking correlates with mistargeting of the tumor suppressor protein Discs large involved in epithelial polarity determination. Garz-depleted salivary cells are smaller and lack well-defined plasma membrane domains. Garz depletion also inhibits normal elongation and positioning of epithelial cells, resulting in a disorganized salivary gland that lacks a well defined luminal duct. Our findings suggest that Garz is essential for establishment of epithelial structures and demonstrate an absolute requirement for Garz during Drosophila development.

The Abl/enabled signaling pathway regulates Golgi architecture in Drosophila photoreceptor neurons

The Golgi apparatus is optimized separately in different tissues for efficient protein trafficking, but we know little of how cell signaling shapes this organelle. We now find that the Abl tyrosine kinase signaling pathway controls the architecture of the Golgi complex in Drosophila photoreceptor (PR) neurons. The Abl effector, Enabled (Ena), selectively labels the cis-Golgi in developing PRs. Overexpression or loss of function of Ena increases the number of cis- and trans-Golgi cisternae per cell, and Ena overexpression also redistributes Golgi to the most basal portion of the cell soma. Loss of Abl or its upstream regulator, the adaptor protein Disabled, lead to the same alterations of Golgi as does overexpression of Ena. The increase in Golgi number in Abl mutants arises in part from increased frequency of Golgi fission events and a decrease in fusions, as revealed by live imaging. Finally, we demonstrate that the effects of Abl signaling on Golgi are mediated via regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Together, these data reveal a direct link between cell signaling and Golgi architecture. Moreover, they raise the possibility that some of the effects of Abl signaling may arise, in part, from alterations of protein trafficking and secretion.

The Golgi ribbon structure facilitates anterograde transport of large cargoes

Breaking down the ribbon of mammalian cells strongly inhibits intra-Golgi transport of large cargoes without altering the rate of transport of smaller cargoes. These results imply that the ribbon structure is an essential requirement for transport of large cargoes in mammalian cells.

In mammalian cells, individual Golgi stacks fuse laterally to form the characteristic perinuclear ribbon structure. Yet the purpose of this remarkable structure has been an enigma. We report that breaking down the ribbon of mammalian cells strongly inhibits intra-Golgi transport of large cargoes without altering the rate of transport of smaller cargoes. In addition, insect cells that naturally harbor dispersed Golgi stacks have limited capacity to transport artificial oversized cargoes. These results imply that the ribbon structure is an essential requirement for transport of large cargoes in mammalian cells, and we suggest that this is because it enables the dilated rims of cisternae (containing the aggregates) to move across the stack as they transfer among adjacent stacks within the ribbon structure.

GM130 is required for compartmental organization of dendritic golgi outposts

Golgi complexes (Golgi) play important roles in the development and function of neurons [1-3]. Not only are Golgi present in the neuronal soma (somal Golgi), they also exist in the dendrites as Golgi outposts [4-7]. Previous studies have shown that Golgi outposts serve as local microtubule-organizing centers [8] and secretory stations in dendrites [6, 9]. It is unknown whether the structure and function of Golgi outposts differ from those of somal Golgi. Here we show in Drosophila that, unlike somal Golgi, the biochemically distinct cis, medial, and trans compartments of Golgi are often disconnected in dendrites in vivo. The Golgi structural protein GM130 is responsible for connecting distinct Golgi compartments in soma and dendritic branch points, and the specific distribution of GM130 determines the compartmental organization of dendritic Golgi in dendritic shafts. We further show that compartmental organization regulates the role of Golgi in acentrosomal microtubule growth in dendrites and in dendritic branching. Our study provides insights into the structure and function of dendritic Golgi outposts as well as the regulation of compartmental organization of Golgi in general.

Drosophila Tempura, a novel protein prenyltransferase α subunit, regulates notch signaling via Rab1 and Rab11

A forward genetic screen in Drosophila looking for Notch signaling regulators identifies Tempura, a new and non-redundant protein prenyltransferase of Rab proteins.

Vesicular trafficking plays a key role in tuning the activity of Notch signaling. Here, we describe a novel and conserved Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (RabGGT)-α–like subunit that is required for Notch signaling-mediated lateral inhibition and cell fate determination of external sensory organs. This protein is encoded by tempura, and its loss affects the secretion of Scabrous and Delta, two proteins required for proper Notch signaling. We show that Tempura forms a heretofore uncharacterized RabGGT complex that geranylgeranylates Rab1 and Rab11. This geranylgeranylation is required for their proper subcellular localization. A partial dysfunction of Rab1 affects Scabrous and Delta in the secretory pathway. In addition, a partial loss Rab11 affects trafficking of Delta. In summary, Tempura functions as a new geranylgeranyltransferase that regulates the subcellular localization of Rab1 and Rab11, which in turn regulate trafficking of Scabrous and Delta, thereby affecting Notch signaling.

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that regulates many developmental processes. Abnormal Notch signaling activity can lead to numerous diseases and developmental defects. To better understand the regulation of this pathway, we performed a forward genetic screen for Notch signaling components that have not been previously identified in Drosophila. Here, we report the identification of an evolutionarily conserved protein, Tempura, which is required for Notch signaling-mediated lateral inhibition and cell fate determination of external sensory organs. We show that loss of tempura leads to mistrafficking of Delta and Scabrous, two important Notch signaling components. In addition, Rab1 and Rab11, two major coordinators of vesicular trafficking, are mislocalizaed in tempura mutants. We further show that Tempura functions as a subunit of a previously uncharacterized lipid modification complex to geranylgeranylate (a type of prenylation) Rab1 and Rab11. This post-translational modification is shown to be required for the proper subcellular localization and function of these Rabs. We find that dysfunction of Rab1 causes an accumulation of Delta and Scabrous in the secretory pathway and dysfunction of Rab11 further interferes with the trafficking of Delta. In addition to the known Rab geranylgeranyltransferse, our data indicate the presence of another functionally nonredundant Rab geranylgeranyltransferse, Tempura.

Integrated self-organization of transitional ER and early Golgi compartments

COPII coated vesicles bud from an ER domain termed the transitional ER (tER), but the mechanism that clusters COPII vesicles at tER sites is unknown. tER sites are closely associated with early Golgi or pre-Golgi structures, suggesting that the clustering of nascent COPII vesicles could be achieved by tethering to adjacent membranes. This model challenges the prevailing view that COPII vesicles are clustered by a scaffolding protein at the ER surface. Although Sec16 was proposed to serve as such a scaffolding protein, recent data suggest that rather than organizing COPII into higher-order structures, Sec16 acts at the level of individual COPII vesicles to regulate COPII turnover. A plausible synthesis is that tER sites are created by tethering to Golgi membranes and are regulated by Sec16. Meanwhile, the COPII vesicles that bud from tER sites are thought to nucleate new Golgi cisternae. Thus, an integrated self-organization process may generate tER-Golgi units.

Actin acting at the Golgi

The organization, assembly and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton provide force and tracks for a variety of (endo)membrane-associated events such as membrane trafficking. This review illustrates in different cellular models how actin and many of its numerous binding and regulatory proteins (actin and co-workers) participate in the structural organization of the Golgi apparatus and in trafficking-associated processes such as sorting, biogenesis and motion of Golgi-derived transport carriers.

Retrograde traffic from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum

Proteins to be secreted are transported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus. The transport of these proteins requires the localization and activity of proteins that create ER exit sites, coat proteins to collect cargo and to reshape the membrane into a transport container, and address labels--SNARE proteins--to target the vesicles specifically to the Golgi apparatus. In addition some proteins may need export chaperones or export receptors to enable their exit into transport vesicles. ER export factors, SNAREs, and misfolded Golgi-resident proteins must all be retrieved from the Golgi to the ER again. This retrieval is also part of the organellar homeostasis pathway essential to maintaining the identity of the ER and of the Golgi apparatus. In this review, I will discuss the different processes in retrograde transport from the Golgi to the ER and highlight the mechanistic insights we have obtained in the last couple of years.

The golgin tether giantin regulates the secretory pathway by controlling stack organization within Golgi apparatus

Golgins are coiled-coil proteins that play a key role in the regulation of Golgi architecture and function. Giantin, the largest golgin in mammals, forms a complex with p115, rab1, GM130, and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), thereby facilitating vesicle tethering and fusion processes around the Golgi apparatus. Treatment with the microtubule destabilizing drug nocodazole transforms the Golgi ribbon into individual Golgi stacks. Here we show that siRNA-mediated depletion of giantin resulted in more dispersed Golgi stacks after nocodazole treatment than by control treatment, without changing the average cisternal length. Furthermore, depletion of giantin caused an increase in cargo transport that was associated with altered cell surface protein glycosylation. Drosophila S2 cells are known to have dispersed Golgi stacks and no giantin homolog. The exogenous expression of mammalian giantin cDNA in S2 cells resulted in clustered Golgi stacks, similar to the Golgi ribbon in mammalian cells. These results suggest that the spatial organization of the Golgi ribbon is mediated by giantin, which also plays a role in cargo transport and sugar modifications.

Ceramide phosphoethanolamine biosynthesis in Drosophila is mediated by a unique ethanolamine phosphotransferase in the Golgi lumen

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a vital component of mammalian membranes, providing mechanical stability and a structural framework for plasma membrane organization. Its production involves the transfer of phosphocholine from phosphatidylcholine onto ceramide, a reaction catalyzed by SM synthase in the Golgi lumen. Drosophila lacks SM and instead synthesizes the SM analogue ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE) as the principal membrane sphingolipid. The corresponding CPE synthase shares mechanistic features with enzymes mediating phospholipid biosynthesis via the Kennedy pathway. Using a functional cloning strategy, we here identified a CDP-ethanolamine:ceramide ethanolamine phosphotransferase as the enzyme responsible for CPE production in Drosophila. CPE synthase constitutes a new branch within the CDP-alcohol phosphotransferase superfamily with homologues in Arthropoda (insects, spiders, mites, scorpions), Cnidaria (Hydra, sea anemones), and Mollusca (oysters) but not in most other animal phyla. The enzyme resides in the Golgi complex with its active site facing the lumen, contrary to the membrane topology of other CDP-alcohol phosphotransferases. Our findings open up an important new avenue to address the biological role of CPE, an enigmatic membrane constituent of a wide variety of invertebrate and marine organisms.

The highly conserved COPII coat complex sorts cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum and targets it to the golgi

Protein egress from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is driven by a conserved cytoplasmic coat complex called the COPII coat. The COPII coat complex contains an inner shell (Sec23/Sec24) that sorts cargo into ER-derived vesicles and an outer cage (Sec13/Sec31) that leads to coat polymerization. Once released from the ER, vesicles must tether to and fuse with the target membrane to deliver their protein and lipid contents. This delivery step also depends on the COPII coat, with coat proteins binding directly to tethering and regulatory factors. Recent findings have yielded new insight into how COPII-mediated vesicle traffic is regulated. Here we discuss the molecular basis of COPII-mediated ER-Golgi traffic, focusing on the surprising complexity of how ER-derived vesicles form, package diverse cargoes, and correctly target these cargoes to their destination.

Trafficking along the secretory pathway in Drosophila cell line and tissues: a light and electron microscopy approach

In the past, Drosophila has been used for molecular and developmental biology studies that have led to many important conceptual advances. In the last decade, this model organism has also been utilized to address cell biology issues, in particular those related to membrane traffic through the secretory pathway. This has confirmed that the functional organization of the secretory pathway is conserved and it allowed further integrating secretion to signaling and development. Furthermore, Drosophila tissue culture S2 cells have been the basis of many RNAi screens, some addressing aspects of the functional organization of the secretory pathway and others identifying proteins of the secretory pathway in seemingly unrelated processes. Taken together, studying the protein trafficking and the organization of the secretory pathway both in S2 cells and in tissues has become important. Here, we review light and electron microscopy techniques applied to Drosophila that allow gaining insight into the secretory pathway, and can easily be extended to other cell biology-related fields.

Golgi disruption and early embryonic lethality in mice lacking USO1

Golgins are a family of long rod-like proteins characterized by the presence of central coiled-coil domains. Members of the golgin family have important roles in membrane trafficking, where they function as tethering factors that capture transport vesicles and facilitate membrane fusion. Golgin family members also have essential roles in maintaining the organization of the Golgi apparatus. Knockdown of individual golgins in cultured cells resulted in the disruption of the Golgi structure and the dispersal of Golgi marker proteins throughout the cytoplasm. However, these cellular phenotypes have not always been recapitulated in vivo. For example, embryonic development proceeds much further than expected and Golgi disruption was observed in only a subset of cell types in mice lacking the ubiquitously expressed golgin GMAP-210. Cell-type specific functional compensation among golgins may explain the absence of global cell lethality when a ubiquitously expressed golgin is missing. In this study we show that functional compensation does not occur for the golgin USO1. Mice lacking this ubiquitously expressed protein exhibit disruption of Golgi structure and early embryonic lethality, indicating that USO1 is indispensable for early embryonic development.

Tethering factor P115: a new model for tether-SNARE interactions

The membrane tethering factor p115 has been shown to have important functions in ER to Golgi traffic and Golgi biogenesis. The multidomain structure of p115 allows for interactions with a diverse array of proteins that govern cargo movement at the ER-Golgi interface. Within its C-terminal region p115 contains four coiled-coil domains (CC1-CC4). Of the four coiled-coils, only CC1 has been shown to be required for p115 function, presumably by its ability to bind numerous SNARE proteins as well as the small GTPase Rab1. Recently, we showed that CC4 also interacts with SNARE proteins and that CC4 is required for p115 function in Golgi homeostasis and the trafficking of transmembrane but not soluble cargo. Here, we propose a novel model wherein p115 facilitates membrane tethering and fusion by simultaneously engaging its CC1 and CC4 domains with distinct SNARE proteins to promote formation of SNARE complexes.

Tales of tethers and tentacles: golgins in plants

As plant Golgi bodies move through the cell along the actin cytoskeleton, they face the need to maintain their polarized stack structure whilst receiving, processing and distributing protein cargo destined for secretion. Structural proteins, or Golgi matrix proteins, help to hold cisternae together and tethering factors direct cargo carriers to the correct target membranes. This review focuses on golgins, a protein family containing long coiled-coil regions, summarizes their known functions in animal cells and highlights recent findings about plant golgins and their putative roles in the plant secretory pathway.

The DSL1 complex: the smallest but not the least CATCHR

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

High-curvature domains of the ER are important for the organization of ER exit sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus occurs at specialized regions known as the ER exit sites (ERES). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ERES appear as numerous scattered puncta throughout the ER. We examined ERES within the peripheral ER, finding that the proteins comprising the ERES localize on high-curvature ER domains where curvature-stabilizing protein Rtn1 is present. Δrtn1 Δrtn2 Δyop1 cells have fewer high-curvature ER domains, but ERES accumulate at the remaining high-curvature ER domains on the edge of expanded ER sheets. We propose that membrane curvature is a key geometric feature for the regulation of ERES localization. We also investigated a spatial relationship between ERES and Golgi cisternae. Golgi cisternae in S. cerevisiae are unstacked, dispersed, and moving in the cytoplasm with cis-cisternae positioned adjacent to ERES, whereas trans-cisternae are not. Morphological changes in the ER of Δrtn1 Δrtn2 Δyop1 cells resulted in aberrant Golgi structures, including cis- and trans-markers, and there was reduced movement at ERES between expanded ER sheets and the plasma membrane.

A genome-wide RNAi screen identifies regulators of cholesterol-modified hedgehog secretion in Drosophila

Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are secreted molecules that function as organizers in animal development. In addition to being palmitoylated, Hh is the only metazoan protein known to possess a covalently-linked cholesterol moiety. The absence of either modification severely disrupts the organization of numerous tissues during development. It is currently not known how lipid-modified Hh is secreted and released from producing cells. We have performed a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila melanogaster cells to identify regulators of Hh secretion. We found that cholesterol-modified Hh secretion is strongly dependent on coat protein complex I (COPI) but not COPII vesicles, suggesting that cholesterol modification alters the movement of Hh through the early secretory pathway. We provide evidence that both proteolysis and cholesterol modification are necessary for the efficient trafficking of Hh through the ER and Golgi. Finally, we identified several putative regulators of protein secretion and demonstrate a role for some of these genes in Hh and Wingless (Wg) morphogen secretion in vivo. These data open new perspectives for studying how morphogen secretion is regulated, as well as provide insight into regulation of lipid-modified protein secretion.

Synchronization of secretory protein traffic in populations of cells

To dissect secretory traffic, we developed the retention using selective hooks (RUSH) system. RUSH is a two-state assay based on the reversible interaction of a hook protein fused to core streptavidin and stably anchored in the donor compartment with a reporter protein of interest fused to streptavidin-binding peptide (SBP). Biotin addition causes a synchronous release of the reporter from the hook. Using the RUSH system, we analyzed different transport characteristics of various Golgi and plasma membrane reporters at physiological temperature in living cells. Using dual-color simultaneous live-cell imaging of two cargos, we observed intra- and post-Golgi segregation of cargo traffic, consistent with observation in other systems. We show preliminarily that the RUSH system is usable for automated screening. The system should help increase the understanding of the mechanisms of trafficking and enable screens for molecules that perturb pathological protein transport.