Golgi dispersal during microtubule disruption: regeneration of Golgi stacks at peripheral endoplasmic reticulum exit sites

Yellow and oxidation-resistant derivatives of a monomeric superfolder GFP

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are essential tools in biology. The utility of FPs depends on their brightness, photostability, efficient folding, monomeric state, and compatibility with different cellular environments. Despite the proliferation of available FPs, derivatives of the originally identified Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein often show superior behavior as fusion tags. We recently generated msGFP2, an optimized monomeric superfolder variant of A. victoria GFP. Here, we describe two derivatives of msGFP2. The monomeric variant msYFP2 is a yellow superfolder FP with high photostability. The monomeric variant moxGFP2 lacks cysteines but retains significant folding stability, so it works well in the lumen of the secretory pathway. These new FPs are useful for common imaging applications.

Inflammatory gene regulation by Cdc42 in airway epithelial cells

Cytokine release from airway epithelial cells is a key immunological process that coordinates an immune response in the lungs. We propose that the Rho GTPase, Cdc42, regulates both transcription and trafficking of cytokines, ultimately affecting the essential process of cytokine release and subsequent inflammation in the lungs. Here, we examined the pro-inflammatory transcriptional profile that occurs in bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in response to TNF-α using RNA-Seq and differential gene expression analysis. To interrogate the role of Cdc42 in inflammatory gene expression, we used a pharmacological inhibitor of Cdc42, ML141, and determined changes in the transcriptomic profile induced by Cdc42 inhibition. Our results indicated that Cdc42 inhibition with ML141 resulted in a unique inflammatory phenotype concomitant with increased gene expression of ER stress genes, Golgi membrane and vesicle transport genes. To further interrogate the inflammatory pathways regulated by Cdc42, we made BEAS-2B knockdown strains for the signaling targets TRIB3, DUSP5, SESN2 and BMP4, which showed high differential expression in response to Cdc42 inhibition. Depletion of DUSP5 and TRIB3 reduced the pro-inflammatory response triggered by Cdc42 inhibition as shown by a reduction in cytokine transcript levels. Depletion of SESN2 and BMP4 did not affect cytokine transcript level, however, Golgi fragmentation was reduced. These results provide further evidence that in airway epithelial cells, Cdc42 is part of a signaling network that controls inflammatory gene expression and secretion by regulating Golgi integrity. Summary sentence:We define the Cdc42-regulated gene networks for inflammatory signaling in airway epithelial cells which includes regulation of ER stress response and vesicle trafficking pathways.

Newsights of endoplasmic reticulum in hypoxia

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is important to cells because of its essential functions, including synthesizing three major nutrients and ion transport. When cellular homeostasis is disrupted, ER quality control (ERQC) system is activated effectively to remove misfolded and unfolded proteins through ER-phagy, ER-related degradation (ERAD), and molecular chaperones. When unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER stress are activated, the cell may be suffering a huge blow, and the most probable consequence is apoptosis. The membrane contact points between the ER and sub-organelles contribute to communication between the organelles. The decrease in oxygen concentration affects the morphology and structure of the ER, thereby affecting its function and further disrupting the stable state of cells, leading to the occurrence of disease. In this study, we describe the functions of ER-, ERQC-, and ER-related membrane contact points and their changes under hypoxia, which will help us further understand ER and treat ER-related diseases.

Cytotoxic Effect of Amyloid-β1-42 Oligomers on Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus Arrangement in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Amyloid-β oligomers are a cytotoxic structure that is key for the establishment of the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These structures promote subcellular alterations that cause synaptic dysfunction, loss of cell communication, and even cell death, generating cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of amyloid-β1-42 oligomers (AβOs) on the membranous organelles involved in protein processing: the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus (GA). The results obtained with 10 μM AβOs in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells showed that oligomeric structures are more toxic than monomers because they cause cell viability to decrease as exposure time increases. Survivor cells were analyzed to further understand the toxic effects of AβOs on intracellular organelles. Survivor cells showed morphological alterations associated with abnormal cytoskeleton modification 72-96 h after exposure to AβOs. Moreover, the ER and GA presented rearrangement throughout the cytoplasmic space, which could be attributed to a lack of constitutive protein processing or to previous abnormal cytoskeleton modification. Interestingly, the disorganization of both ER and GA organelles exposed to AβOs is likely an early pathological alteration that could be related to aberrant protein processing and accumulation in AD.

Sortase-Modified Cholera Toxoids Show Specific Golgi Localization

Cholera toxoid is an established tool for use in cellular tracing in neuroscience and cell biology. We use a sortase labeling approach to generate site-specific N-terminally modified variants of both the A2-B5 heterohexamer and B5 pentamer forms of the toxoid. Both forms of the toxoid are endocytosed by GM1-positive mammalian cells, and while the heterohexameric toxoid was principally localized in the ER, the B5 pentamer showed an unexpectedly specific localization in the medial/trans-Golgi. This study suggests a future role for specifically labeled cholera toxoids in live-cell imaging beyond their current applications in neuronal tracing and labeling of lipid rafts in fixed cells.

A Hollow TFG Condensate Spatially Compartmentalizes the Early Secretory Pathway

In the early secretory pathway, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi membranes form a nearly spherical interface. In this ribosome-excluding zone, bidirectional transport of cargo coincides with a spatial segregation of anterograde and retrograde carriers by an unknown mechanism. We show that at physiological conditions, Trk-fused gene (TFG) self-organizes to form a hollow, anisotropic condensate that matches the dimensions of the ER-Golgi interface. Regularly spaced hydrophobic residues in TFG control the condensation mechanism and result in a porous condensate surface. We find that TFG condensates act as a molecular sieve, enabling molecules corresponding to the size of anterograde coats (COPII) to access the condensate interior while restricting retrograde coats (COPI). We propose that a hollow TFG condensate structures the ER-Golgi interface to create a diffusion-limited space for bidirectional transport. We further propose that TFG condensates optimize membrane flux by insulating secretory carriers in their lumen from retrograde carriers outside TFG cages.

Evolution of the ribbon-like organization of the Golgi apparatus in animal cells

The "ribbon," a structural arrangement in which Golgi stacks connect to each other, is considered to be restricted to vertebrate cells. Although ribbon disruption is linked to various human pathologies, its functional role in cellular processes remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary origin of the Golgi ribbon. We observe a ribbon-like architecture in the cells of several metazoan taxa suggesting its early emergence in animal evolution predating the appearance of vertebrates. Supported by AlphaFold2 modeling, we propose that the evolution of Golgi reassembly and stacking protein (GRASP) binding by golgin tethers may have driven the joining of Golgi stacks resulting in the ribbon-like configuration. Additionally, we find that Golgi ribbon assembly is a shared developmental feature of deuterostomes, implying a role in embryogenesis. Overall, our study points to the functional significance of the Golgi ribbon beyond vertebrates and underscores the need for further investigations to unravel its elusive biological roles.

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

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

Microtubule disruption synergizes with STING signaling to show potent and broad-spectrum antiviral activity

The activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling induces the production of type I interferons (IFNs), which play critical roles in protective innate immunity for the host to defend against viral infections. Therefore, achieving sustained or enhanced STING activation could become an antiviral immune strategy with potential broad-spectrum activities. Here, we discovered that various clinically used microtubule-destabilizing agents (MDAs) for the treatment of cancer showed a synergistic effect with the activation of STING signaling in innate immune response. The combination of a STING agonist cGAMP and a microtubule depolymerizer MMAE boosted the activation of STING innate immune response and showed broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple families of viruses. Mechanistically, MMAE not only disrupted the microtubule network, but also switched the cGAMP-mediated STING trafficking pattern and changed the distribution of Golgi apparatus and STING puncta. The combination of cGAMP and MMAE promoted the oligomerization of STING and downstream signaling cascades. Importantly, the cGAMP plus MMAE treatment increased STING-mediated production of IFNs and other antiviral cytokines to inhibit viral propagation in vitro and in vivo. This study revealed a novel role of the microtubule destabilizer in antiviral immune responses and provides a previously unexploited strategy based on STING-induced innate antiviral immunity.

Combinations of the azaquinazoline anti-Wolbachia agent, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole anthelmintics synergise to mediate sub-seven-day sterilising and curative efficacies in experimental models of filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are two major neglected tropical diseases that are responsible for causing severe disability in 50 million people worldwide, whilst veterinary filariasis (heartworm) is a potentially lethal parasitic infection of companion animals. There is an urgent need for safe, short-course curative (macrofilaricidal) drugs to eliminate these debilitating parasite infections. We investigated combination treatments of the novel anti-Wolbachia azaquinazoline small molecule, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole drugs (albendazole or oxfendazole) in up to four different rodent filariasis infection models: Brugia malayi-CB.17 SCID mice, B. malayi-Mongolian gerbils, B. pahangi-Mongolian gerbils, and Litomosoides sigmodontis-Mongolian gerbils. Combination treatments synergised to elicit threshold (>90%) Wolbachia depletion from female worms in 5 days of treatment, using 2-fold lower dose-exposures of AWZ1066S than monotherapy. Short-course lowered dose AWZ1066S-albendazole combination treatments also delivered partial adulticidal activities and/or long-lasting inhibition of embryogenesis, resulting in complete transmission blockade in B. pahangi and L. sigmodontis gerbil models. We determined that short-course AWZ1066S-albendazole co-treatment significantly augmented the depletion of Wolbachia populations within both germline and hypodermal tissues of B. malayi female worms and in hypodermal tissues in male worms, indicating that anti-Wolbachia synergy is not limited to targeting female embryonic tissues. Our data provides pre-clinical proof-of-concept that sub-seven-day combinations of rapid-acting novel anti-Wolbachia agents with benzimidazole anthelmintics are a promising curative and transmission-blocking drug treatment strategy for filarial diseases of medical and veterinary importance.

Yellow and oxidation-resistant derivatives of a monomeric superfolder GFP

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are essential tools in biology. The utility of FPs depends on their brightness, photostability, efficient folding, monomeric state, and compatibility with different cellular environments. Despite the proliferation of available FPs, derivatives of the originally identified Aequorea victoria GFP often show superior behavior as fusion tags. We recently generated msGFP2, an optimized monomeric superfolder variant of A. victoria GFP. Here, we describe two derivatives of msGFP2. The monomeric variant msYFP2 is a yellow superfolder FP with high photostability. The monomeric variant moxGFP2 lacks cysteines but retains significant folding stability, so it works well in the lumen of the secretory pathway. These new FPs are useful for common imaging applications.

Vimentin intermediate filaments provide structural stability to the mammalian Golgi complex

The Golgi complex comprises a connected ribbon of stacked cisternal membranes localized to the perinuclear region in most vertebrate cells. The position and morphology of this organelle depends upon interactions with microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton. In contrast, we know relatively little about the relationship of the Golgi complex with intermediate filaments (IFs). In this study, we show that the Golgi is in close physical proximity to vimentin IFs in cultured mouse and human cells. We also show that the trans-Golgi network coiled-coil protein GORAB can physically associate with vimentin IFs. Loss of vimentin and/or GORAB had a modest effect upon Golgi structure at the steady state. The Golgi underwent more rapid disassembly upon chemical disruption with brefeldin A or nocodazole, and slower reassembly upon drug washout, in vimentin knockout cells. Moreover, loss of vimentin caused reduced Golgi ribbon integrity when cells were cultured on high-stiffness hydrogels, which was exacerbated by loss of GORAB. These results indicate that vimentin IFs contribute to the structural stability of the Golgi complex and suggest a role for GORAB in this process.

Unraveling the Multifaceted Role of the Golgi Apparatus: Insights into Neuronal Plasticity, Development, Neurogenesis, Alzheimer's Disease, and SARS-CoV-2 Interactions

This article critically evaluates the multifunctional role of the Golgi apparatus within neurological paradigms. We succinctly highlight its influence on neuronal plasticity, development, and the vital trafficking and sorting mechanisms for proteins and lipids. The discourse further navigates to its regulatory prominence in neurogenesis and its implications in Alzheimer's Disease pathogenesis. The emerging nexus between the Golgi apparatus and SARS-CoV-2 underscores its potential in viral replication processes. This consolidation accentuates the Golgi apparatus's centrality in neurobiology and its intersections with both neurodegenerative and viral pathologies. In essence, understanding the Golgi's multifaceted functions harbors profound implications for future therapeutic innovations in neurological and viral afflictions.

Microcephaly-associated protein WDR62 shuttles from the Golgi apparatus to the spindle poles in human neural progenitors

WDR62 is a spindle pole-associated scaffold protein with pleiotropic functions. Recessive mutations in WDR62 cause structural brain abnormalities and account for the second most common cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH), indicating WDR62 as a critical hub for human brain development. Here, we investigated WDR62 function in corticogenesis through the analysis of a C-terminal truncating mutation (D955AfsX112). Using induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) obtained from a patient and his unaffected parent, as well as isogenic corrected lines, we generated 2D and 3D models of human neurodevelopment, including neuroepithelial stem cells, cerebro-cortical progenitors, terminally differentiated neurons, and cerebral organoids. We report that WDR62 localizes to the Golgi apparatus during interphase in cultured cells and human fetal brain tissue, and translocates to the mitotic spindle poles in a microtubule-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that WDR62 dysfunction impairs mitotic progression and results in alterations of the neurogenic trajectories of iPSC neuroderivatives. In summary, impairment of WDR62 localization and function results in severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities, thus delineating new mechanisms in the etiology of MCPH.

Gβγ signaling regulates microtubule-dependent control of Golgi integrity

Gβγ subunits regulate several non-canonical functions at distinct intracellular organelles. Previous studies have shown that Gβγ signaling at the Golgi is necessary to mediate vesicular protein transport function and to regulate mitotic Golgi fragmentation. Disruption of Golgi structure also occurs in response to microtubule depolymerizing agents, such as nocodazole. In this study, we use siRNA against Gβ1/2 or specific Gγ subunits to deplete their expression, and show that their knockdown causes a significant reduction in nocodazole-induced Golgi fragmentation. We establish that knockdown of Gβγ or inhibition of Gβγ with gallein resulted in decreased activation of protein kinase D (PKD) in response to nocodazole treatment. We demonstrate that restricting the amount of free Gβγ available for signaling by either inhibiting Gαi activation using pertussis toxin or by knockdown of the non-GPCR GEF, Girdin/GIV protein, results in a substantial decrease in nocodazole-induced Golgi fragmentation and PKD phosphorylation. Our results also indicate that depletion of Gβγ or inhibition with gallein or pertussis toxin significantly reduces the microtubule disruption-dependent Golgi fragmentation phenotype observed in cells transfected with mutant SOD1, a major causative protein in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These results provide compelling evidence that Gβγ signaling is critical for the regulation of Golgi integrity.

NF-κB activation enhances STING signaling by altering microtubule-mediated STING trafficking

It is widely known that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) can trigger nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. However, whether and how the NF-κB pathway affects STING signaling remains largely unclear. Here, we report that Toll-like receptor (TLR)-, interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-, tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-, growth factor receptor (GF-R)-, and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated NF-κB signaling activation dramatically enhances STING-mediated immune responses. Mechanistically, we find that STING interacts with microtubules, which plays a crucial role in STING intracellular trafficking. We further uncover that activation of the canonical NF-κB pathway induces microtubule depolymerization, which inhibits STING trafficking to lysosomes for degradation. This leads to increased levels of activated STING that persist for a longer period of time. The synergy between NF-κB and STING triggers a cascade-amplified interferon response and robust host antiviral defense. In addition, we observe that several gain-of-function mutations of STING abolish the microtubule-STING interaction and cause abnormal STING trafficking and ligand-independent STING autoactivation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that NF-κB activation enhances STING signaling by regulating microtubule-mediated STING trafficking.

Identification of global inhibitors of cellular glycosylation

Small molecule inhibitors of glycosylation enzymes are valuable tools for dissecting glycan functions and potential drug candidates. Screening for inhibitors of glycosyltransferases are mainly performed by in vitro enzyme assays with difficulties moving candidates to cells and animals. Here, we circumvent this by employing a cell-based screening assay using glycoengineered cells expressing tailored reporter glycoproteins. We focused on GalNAc-type O-glycosylation and selected the GalNAc-T11 isoenzyme that selectively glycosylates endocytic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-related proteins as targets. Our screen of a limited small molecule compound library did not identify selective inhibitors of GalNAc-T11, however, we identify two compounds that broadly inhibited Golgi-localized glycosylation processes. These compounds mediate the reversible fragmentation of the Golgi system without affecting secretion. We demonstrate how these inhibitors can be used to manipulate glycosylation in cells to induce expression of truncated O-glycans and augment binding of cancer-specific Tn-glycoprotein antibodies and to inhibit expression of heparan sulfate and binding and infection of SARS-CoV-2.

Characterization of cell-to-cell variation in nuclear transport rates and identification of its sources

Nuclear transport is an essential part of eukaryotic cell function. Here, we present scFRAP, a model-assisted fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)- based method to determine nuclear import and export rates independently in individual live cells. To overcome the inherent noise of single-cell measurements, we performed sequential FRAPs on the same cell. We found large cell-to-cell variation in transport rates within isogenic yeast populations. For passive transport, the variability in NPC number might explain most of the variability. Using this approach, we studied mother-daughter cell asymmetry in the active nuclear shuttling of the transcription factor Ace2, which is specifically concentrated in daughter cell nuclei in early G1. Rather than reduced export in the daughter cell, as previously hypothesized, we found that this asymmetry is mainly due to an increased import in daughters. These results shed light on cell-to-cell variation in cellular dynamics and its sources.

The Microtubule Destabilizer Eribulin Synergizes with STING Agonists to Promote Antitumor Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models

Eribulin is a microtubule destabilizer used in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Eribulin and other microtubule targeted drugs, such as the taxanes, have shared antimitotic effects, but differ in their mechanism of microtubule disruption, leading to diverse effects on cellular signaling and trafficking. Herein, we demonstrate that eribulin is unique from paclitaxel in its ability to enhance expression of the immunogenic cytokine interferon beta (IFNβ) in combination with STING agonists in both immune cells and TNBC models, including profound synergism with ADU-S100 and E7766, which are currently undergoing clinical trials. The mechanism by which eribulin enhances STING signaling is downstream of microtubule disruption and independent of the eribulin-dependent release of mitochondrial DNA. Eribulin did not override the requirement of ER exit for STING activation and did not inhibit subsequent STING degradation; however, eribulin significantly enhanced IRF3 phosphorylation and IFNβ production downstream of the RNA sensing pathway that converges on this transcription factor. Additionally, we found that eribulin enhanced the population of activated CD4⁺ T-cells in vivo when combined with either a STING agonist or tumor, demonstrating the ability to function as an immune adjuvant. We further interrogated the combination of eribulin with ADU-S100 in the MMTV-PyVT spontaneous murine mammary tumor model where we observed significant antitumor efficacy with combination treatment. Together, our findings demonstrate that microtubule targeted chemotherapeutics have distinct immunological effects and that eribulin's ability to enhance innate immune sensing pathways supports its use in combination with immunotherapies, such as STING agonists, for the more effective treatment of TNBC and other malignancies.

GOPC facilitates the sorting of syndecan-1 in polarized epithelial cells

The trans-Golgi network must coordinate sorting and secretion of proteins and lipids to intracellular organelles and the plasma membrane. During polarization of epithelial cells, changes in the lipidome and the expression and distribution of proteins contribute to the formation of apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains. Previous studies using HeLa cells show that the syndecan-1 transmembrane domain confers sorting within sphingomyelin-rich vesicles in a sphingomyelin secretion pathway. In polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, we reveal differences in the sorting of syndecan-1, whereupon the correct trafficking of the protein is not dependent on its transmembrane domain and changes in sphingomyelin content of cells during polarization. Instead, we reveal that correct basolateral targeting of syndecan-1 requires a full-length PDZ motif in syndecan-1 and the PDZ domain golgin protein GOPC. Moreover, we reveal changes in Golgi morphology elicited by GOPC overexpression. These results suggest that the role of GOPC in sorting syndecan-1 is indirect and likely due to GOPC effects on Golgi organization.

Nondegradable ubiquitinated ATG9A organizes Golgi integrity and dynamics upon stresses

ATG9A is a highly conserved membrane protein required for autophagy initiation. It is trafficked from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the phagophore to act as a membrane source for autophagosome expansion. Here, we show that ATG9A is not just a passenger protein in the TGN but rather works in concert with GRASP55, a stacking factor for Golgi structure, to organize Golgi dynamics and integrity. Upon heat stress, the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH9 is promoted to ubiquitinate ATG9A in the form of K63 conjugation, and the nondegradable ubiquitinated ATG9A disperses from the Golgi apparatus to the cytoplasm more intensely, accompanied by inhibiting GRASP55 oligomerization, further resulting in Golgi fragmentation. Knockout of ATG9A or MARCH9 largely prevents Golgi fragmentation and protects Golgi functions under heat and other Golgi stresses. Our results reveal a noncanonical function of ATG9A for Golgi dynamics and suggest the pathway for sensing Golgi stress via the MARCH9/ATG9A axis.

Visualizing intra-Golgi localization and transport by side-averaging Golgi ministacks

The mammalian Golgi comprises tightly adjacent and flattened membrane sacs called cisternae. We still do not understand the molecular organization of the Golgi and intra-Golgi transport of cargos. One of the most significant challenges to studying the Golgi is resolving Golgi proteins at the cisternal level under light microscopy. We have developed a side-averaging approach to visualize the cisternal organization and intra-Golgi transport in nocodazole-induced Golgi ministacks. Side-view images of ministacks acquired from Airyscan microscopy are transformed and aligned before intensity normalization and averaging. From side-average images of >30 Golgi proteins, we uncovered the organization of the pre-Golgi, cis, medial, trans, and trans-Golgi network membrane with an unprecedented spatial resolution. We observed the progressive transition of a synchronized cargo wave from the cis to the trans-side of the Golgi. Our data support our previous finding, in which constitutive cargos exit at the trans-Golgi while the secretory targeting to the trans-Golgi network is signal dependent.

Diclofenac: A Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Inducing Cancer Cell Death by Inhibiting Microtubule Polymerization and Autophagy Flux

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat inflammatory diseases induces cellular toxicity by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairing autophagic flux. In this study, we investigated whether diclofenac induces cancer cell death and the mechanism by which diclofenac causes cell death. We observed that diclofenac induces mitotic arrest with a half-maximal effective concentration of 170 μM and cell death with a half-maximal lethal dose of 200 µM during 18-h incubation in HeLa cells. Cellular microtubule imaging and in vitro tubulin polymerization assays demonstrated that treatment with diclofenac elicits microtubule destabilization. Autophagy relies on microtubule-mediated transport and the fusion of autophagic vesicles. We observed that diclofenac inhibits both phagophore movement, an early step of autophagy, and the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, a late step of autophagy. Diclofenac also induces the fragmentation of mitochondria and the Golgi during cell death. We found that diclofenac induces cell death further in combination with 5-fuorouracil, a DNA replication inhibitor than in single treatment in cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer cells, which have high basal autophagy, are particularly sensitive to cell death by diclofenac. Our study suggests that microtubule destabilization by diclofenac induces cancer cell death via compromised spindle assembly checkpoints and increased ROS through impaired autophagy flux. Diclofenac may be a candidate therapeutic drug in certain type of cancers by inhibiting microtubule-mediated cellular events in combination with clinically utilized nucleoside metabolic inhibitors, including 5-fluorouracil, to block cancer cell proliferation.

Structure modeling hints at a granular organization of the Golgi ribbon

BACKGROUND

In vertebrate cells, the Golgi functional subunits, mini-stacks, are linked into a tri-dimensional network. How this "ribbon" architecture relates to Golgi functions remains unclear. Are all connections between mini-stacks equal? Is the local structure of the ribbon of functional importance? These are difficult questions to address, without a quantifiable readout of the output of ribbon-embedded mini-stacks. Endothelial cells produce secretory granules, the Weibel-Palade bodies (WPB), whose von Willebrand Factor (VWF) cargo is central to hemostasis. The Golgi apparatus controls WPB size at both mini-stack and ribbon levels. Mini-stack dimensions delimit the size of VWF "boluses" whilst the ribbon architecture allows their linear co-packaging, thereby generating WPBs of different lengths. This Golgi/WPB size relationship suits mathematical analysis.

RESULTS

WPB lengths were quantized as multiples of the bolus size and mathematical modeling simulated the effects of different Golgi ribbon organizations on WPB size, to be compared with the ground truth of experimental data. An initial simple model, with the Golgi as a single long ribbon composed of linearly interlinked mini-stacks, was refined to a collection of mini-ribbons and then to a mixture of mini-stack dimers plus long ribbon segments. Complementing these models with cell culture experiments led to novel findings. Firstly, one-bolus sized WPBs are secreted faster than larger secretory granules. Secondly, microtubule depolymerization unlinks the Golgi into equal proportions of mini-stack monomers and dimers. Kinetics of binding/unbinding of mini-stack monomers underpinning the presence of stable dimers was then simulated. Assuming that stable mini-stack dimers and monomers persist within the ribbon resulted in a final model that predicts a "breathing" arrangement of the Golgi, where monomer and dimer mini-stacks within longer structures undergo continuous linking/unlinking, consistent with experimentally observed WPB size distributions.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypothetical Golgi organizations were validated against a quantifiable secretory output. The best-fitting Golgi model, accounting for stable mini-stack dimers, is consistent with a highly dynamic ribbon structure, capable of rapid rearrangement. Our modeling exercise therefore predicts that at the fine-grained level the Golgi ribbon is more complex than generally thought. Future experiments will confirm whether such a ribbon organization is endothelial-specific or a general feature of vertebrate cells.

The Golgi Apparatus and its Next-Door Neighbors

The Golgi apparatus represents a central compartment of membrane traffic. Its apparent architecture, however, differs considerably among species, from unstacked and scattered cisternae in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to beautiful ministacks in plants and further to gigantic ribbon structures typically seen in mammals. Considering the well-conserved functions of the Golgi, its fundamental structure must have been optimized despite seemingly different architectures. In addition to the core layers of cisternae, the Golgi is usually accompanied by next-door compartments on its cis and trans sides. The trans-Golgi network (TGN) can be now considered as a compartment independent from the Golgi stack. On the cis side, the intermediate compartment between the ER and the Golgi (ERGIC) has been known in mammalian cells, and its functional equivalent is now suggested for yeast and plant cells. High-resolution live imaging is extremely powerful for elucidating the dynamics of these compartments and has revealed amazing similarities in their behaviors, indicating common mechanisms conserved along the long course of evolution. From these new findings, I would like to propose reconsideration of compartments and suggest a new concept to describe their roles comprehensively around the Golgi and in the post-Golgi trafficking.

Segregation of the membrane cargoes, BACE1 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) throughout the Golgi apparatus

The intracellular trafficking of β‐site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme (BACE1) and APP regulates amyloid‐β production. Our previous work demonstrated that newly synthesized BACE1 and APP are segregated into distinct trafficking pathways from the trans‐Golgi network (TGN), and that alterations in their trafficking lead to an increase in Aβ production in non‐neuronal and neuronal cells. However, it is not known whether BACE1 and APP are transported through the Golgi stacks together and sorted at the TGN or segregated prior to arrival at the TGN. To address this question, we have used high‐resolution Airyscan technology followed by Huygens deconvolution to quantify the overlap of BACE1 and APP in Golgi subcompartments in HeLa cells and primary neurons. Here, we show that APP and BACE1 are segregated, on exit from the endoplasmic reticulum and in the cis‐Golgi and throughout the Golgi stack. In contrast, the transferrin receptor, which exits the TGN in AP‐1 mediated transport carriers as for BACE1, colocalizes with BACE1, but not APP, throughout the Golgi stack. The segregation of APP and BACE1 is independent of the Golgi ribbon structure and the cytoplasmic domain of the cargo. Overall, our findings reveal the segregation of different membrane cargoes early in the secretory pathway, a finding relevant to the regulation of APP processing events.

Branched Actin Maintains Acetylated Microtubule Network in the Early Secretory Pathway

In the early secretory pathway, the delivery of anterograde cargoes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites (ERES) to the Golgi apparatus is a multi-step transport process occurring via the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (IC, also called ERGIC). While the role microtubules in ER-to-Golgi transport has been well established, how the actin cytoskeleton contributes to this process remains poorly understood. Here, we report that Arp2/3 inhibition affects the network of acetylated microtubules around the Golgi and induces the accumulation of unusually long RAB1/GM130-positive carriers around the centrosome. These long carriers are less prone to reach the Golgi apparatus, and arrival of anterograde cargoes to the Golgi is decreased upon Arp2/3 inhibition. Our data suggest that Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization maintains a stable network of acetylated microtubules, which ensures efficient cargo trafficking at the late stage of ER to Golgi transport.

Comparative analysis of vertebrates reveals that mouse primordial oocytes do not contain a Balbiani body

Oocytes spend the majority of their lifetime in a primordial state. The cellular and molecular biology of primordial oocytes is largely unexplored; yet, studying these is necessary to understand the mechanisms through which oocytes maintain cellular fitness for decades, and why they eventually fail with age. Here, we develop enabling methods for live-imaging based comparative characterization of Xenopus, mouse and human primordial oocytes. We show that primordial oocytes in all three vertebrate species contain active mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes. We further demonstrate that human and Xenopus oocytes have a Balbiani body characterized by a dense accumulation of mitochondria in their cytoplasm. However, despite previous reports, we did not find a Balbiani body in mouse oocytes. Instead, we demonstrate what was previously used as a marker for the Balbiani body in mouse primordial oocytes is in fact a ring-shaped Golgi apparatus that is not functionally associated with oocyte dormancy. Our work provides the first insights into the organisation of the cytoplasm in mammalian primordial oocytes, and clarifies relative advantages and limitations of choosing different model organisms for studying oocyte dormancy.

A quantitative study of the Golgi retention of glycosyltransferases

How Golgi glycosyltransferases and glycosidases (hereafter glycosyltransferases) localize to the Golgi is still unclear. Here, we first investigated the post-Golgi trafficking of glycosyltransferases. We found that glycosyltransferases can escape the Golgi to the plasma membrane, where they are subsequently endocytosed to the endolysosome. Post-Golgi glycosyltransferases are probably degraded by ectodomain shedding. We discovered that most glycosyltransferases are not retrieved from post-Golgi sites, indicating that retention rather than retrieval is the primary mechanism for their Golgi localization. We therefore used the Golgi residence time to study Golgi retention of glycosyltransferases quantitatively and systematically. Quantitative analysis of chimeras of ST6GAL1 and either transferrin receptor or tumor necrosis factor α revealed the contributions of three regions of ST6GAL1, namely the N-terminal cytosolic tail, the transmembrane domain and the ectodomain, to Golgi retention. We found that each of the three regions is sufficient for Golgi retention in an additive manner. N-terminal cytosolic tail length negatively affects the Golgi retention of ST6GAL1, similar to effects observed for the transmembrane domain. Therefore, the long N-terminal cytosolic tail and transmembrane domain could act as Golgi export signals for transmembrane secretory cargos. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Activity-dependent Golgi satellite formation in dendrites reshapes the neuronal surface glycoproteome

Activity-driven changes in the neuronal surface glycoproteome are known to occur with synapse formation, plasticity, and related diseases, but their mechanistic basis and significance are unclear. Here, we observed that N-glycans on surface glycoproteins of dendrites shift from immature to mature forms containing sialic acid in response to increased neuronal activation. In exploring the basis of these N-glycosylation alterations, we discovered that they result from the growth and proliferation of Golgi satellites scattered throughout the dendrite. Golgi satellites that formed during neuronal excitation were in close association with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites and early endosomes and contained glycosylation machinery without the Golgi structural protein, GM130. They functioned as distal glycosylation stations in dendrites, terminally modifying sugars either on newly synthesized glycoproteins passing through the secretory pathway or on surface glycoproteins taken up from the endocytic pathway. These activities led to major changes in the dendritic surface of excited neurons, impacting binding and uptake of lectins, as well as causing functional changes in neurotransmitter receptors such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neural activity thus boosts the activity of the dendrite’s satellite micro-secretory system by redistributing Golgi enzymes involved in glycan modifications into peripheral Golgi satellites. This remodeling of the neuronal surface has potential significance for synaptic plasticity, addiction, and disease.

Disruption of the Golgi Apparatus and Contribution of the Endoplasmic Reticulum to the SARS-CoV-2 Replication Complex

A variety of immunolabeling procedures for both light and electron microscopy were used to examine the cellular origins of the host membranes supporting the SARS-CoV-2 replication complex. The endoplasmic reticulum has long been implicated as a source of membrane for the coronavirus replication organelle. Using dsRNA as a marker for sites of viral RNA synthesis, we provide additional evidence supporting ER as a prominent source of membrane. In addition, we observed a rapid fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus which is visible by 6 h and complete by 12 h post-infection. Golgi derived lipid appears to be incorporated into the replication organelle although protein markers are dispersed throughout the infected cell. The mechanism of Golgi disruption is undefined, but chemical disruption of the Golgi apparatus by brefeldin A is inhibitory to viral replication. A search for an individual SARS-CoV-2 protein responsible for this activity identified at least five viral proteins, M, S, E, Orf6, and nsp3, that induced Golgi fragmentation when expressed in eukaryotic cells. Each of these proteins, as well as nsp4, also caused visible changes to ER structure as shown by correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Collectively, these results imply that specific disruption of the Golgi apparatus is a critical component of coronavirus replication.

A primary cilium in oligodendrocytes: a fine structure signal of repairs in thalamic Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS)

A murine osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) model of the central nervous system included the relay thalamic ventral posterolateral (VPL) and ventral posteromedial (VPM) nuclei. Morphologic comparisons between treatments have revealed oligodendrocyte changes and, already 12 hours following the osmolality restoration, some heavily contrasted oligodendrocytes formed a unique intracellular primary cilium. This unique structure, found in vivo, in mature CNS oligodendrocytes, could account for a local awakening of some of the developmental proteome as it can be expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells. This resilience accompanied the emergence of arl13b protein expression along with restoration of nerve cell body axon hillocks shown in a previous issue of this journal. Additionally, the return of several thalamic oligodendrocyte fine features (nucleus, organelles) was shown 36 h later, including some mitosis. Those cell restorations and recognized translational activities comforted that local repairs could again take place, due to oligodendrocyte resilience after ODS instead or added to a postulated immigration of oligodendrocyte precursor cells distant from the sites of myelinolysis.

The ER cholesterol sensor SCAP promotes CARTS biogenesis at ER-Golgi membrane contact sites

In response to cholesterol deprivation, SCAP escorts SREBP transcription factors from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex for their proteolytic activation, leading to gene expression for cholesterol synthesis and uptake. Here, we show that in cholesterol-fed cells, ER-localized SCAP interacts through Sac1 phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) phosphatase with a VAP-OSBP complex, which mediates counter-transport of ER cholesterol and Golgi PI4P at ER-Golgi membrane contact sites (MCSs). SCAP knockdown inhibited the turnover of PI4P, perhaps due to a cholesterol transport defect, and altered the subcellular distribution of the VAP-OSBP complex. As in the case of perturbation of lipid transfer complexes at ER-Golgi MCSs, SCAP knockdown inhibited the biogenesis of the trans-Golgi network-derived transport carriers CARTS, which was reversed by expression of wild-type SCAP or a Golgi transport-defective mutant, but not of cholesterol sensing-defective mutants. Altogether, our findings reveal a new role for SCAP under cholesterol-fed conditions in the facilitation of CARTS biogenesis via ER-Golgi MCSs, depending on the ER cholesterol.

Multiple roles for actin in secretory and endocytic pathways

Actin filaments play multiple roles in the secretory pathway and in endosome dynamics in mammals, including maintenance of Golgi structure, release of membrane cargo from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), endocytosis, and endosomal sorting dynamics. In addition, TGN carrier transport and endocytosis both occur by multiple mechanisms in mammals. Actin likely plays a role in at least four mammalian endocytic pathways, five pathways for membrane release from the TGN, and three processes involving endosomes. Also, the mammalian Golgi structure is highly dynamic, and actin is likely important for these dynamics. One challenge for many of these processes is the need to deal with other membrane-associated structures, such as the cortical actin network at the plasma membrane or the matrix that surrounds the Golgi. Arp2/3 complex is a major actin assembly factor in most of the processes mentioned, but roles for formins and tandem WH2-motif-containing assembly factors are being elucidated and are anticipated to grow with further study. The specific role for actin has not been defined for most of these processes, but is likely to involve the generation of force for membrane dynamics, either by actin polymerization itself or by myosin motor activity. Defining these processes mechanistically is necessary for understanding membrane dynamics in general, as well as pathways that utilize these processes, such as autophagy.

Insulin-promoted mobilization of GLUT4 from a perinuclear storage site requires RAB10

Insulin controls glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells by inducing a net redistribution of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from intracellular storage to the plasma membrane (PM). The TBC1D4-RAB10 signaling module is required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the PM, although where it intersects GLUT4 traffic was unknown. Here we demonstrate that TBC1D4-RAB10 functions to control GLUT4 mobilization from a trans-Golgi network (TGN) storage compartment, establishing that insulin, in addition to regulating the PM proximal effects of GLUT4-containing vesicles docking to and fusion with the PM, also directly regulates the behavior of GLUT4 deeper within the cell. We also show that GLUT4 is retained in an element/domain of the TGN from which newly synthesized lysosomal proteins are targeted to the late endosomes and the ATP7A copper transporter is translocated to the PM by elevated copper. Insulin does not mobilize ATP7A nor does copper mobilize GLUT4, and RAB10 is not required for copper-elicited ATP7A mobilization. Consequently, GLUT4 intracellular sequestration and mobilization by insulin is achieved, in part, through utilizing a region of the TGN devoted to specialized cargo transport in general rather than being specific for GLUT4. Our results define the GLUT4-containing region of the TGN as a sorting and storage site from which different cargo are mobilized by distinct signals through unique molecular machinery.

Positioning of endoplasmic reticulum exit sites around the Golgi depends on BicaudalD2 and Rab6 activity

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in biogenesis, modification and transport of secreted and membrane proteins. The ER membranes are spread throughout the cell cytoplasm as well as the export domains known as ER exit sites (ERES). A subpopulation of ERES is centrally localized proximal to the Golgi apparatus. The significance of this subpopulation on ER-to-Golgi transport remains unclear. Transport carriers (TCs) form at the ERES via a COPII-dependent mechanism and move to Golgi on microtubule (MT) tracks. It was shown previously that ERES are distributed along MTs and undergo chaotic short-range movements and sporadic rapid long-range movements. The long-range movements of ERES are impaired by either depolymerization of MTs or inhibition of dynein, suggesting that ERES central concentration is mediated by dynein activity. We demonstrate that the processive movements of ERES are frequently coupled with the TC departure. Using the Sar1a[H79G]-induced ERES clustering at the perinuclear region, we identified BicaudalD2 (BicD2) and Rab6 as components of the dynein adaptor complex which drives perinuclear ERES concentration at the cell center. BicD2 partially colocalized with ERES and with TC. Peri-Golgi ERES localization was significantly affected by inhibition of BicD2 function with its N-terminal fragment or inhibition of Rab6 function with its dominant-negative mutant. Golgi accumulation of secretory protein was delayed by inhibition of Rab6 and BicD2. Thus, we conclude that a BicD2/Rab6 dynein adaptor is required for maintenance of Golgi-associated ERES. We propose that Golgi-associated ERES may enhance the efficiency of the ER-to-Golgi transport.

Lack of GABARAP-Type Proteins Is Accompanied by Altered Golgi Morphology and Surfaceome Composition

GABARAP (γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-associated protein) and its paralogues GABARAPL1 and GABARAPL2 comprise a subfamily of autophagy-related Atg8 proteins. They are studied extensively regarding their roles during autophagy. Originally, however, especially GABARAPL2 was discovered to be involved in intra-Golgi transport and homotypic fusion of post-mitotic Golgi fragments. Recently, a broader function of mammalian Atg8s on membrane trafficking through interaction with various soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors SNAREs was suggested. By immunostaining and microscopic analysis of the Golgi network, we demonstrate the importance of the presence of individual GABARAP-type proteins on Golgi morphology. Furthermore, triple knockout (TKO) cells lacking the whole GABARAP subfamily showed impaired Golgi-dependent vesicular trafficking as assessed by imaging of fluorescently labelled ceramide. With the Golgi apparatus being central within the secretory pathway, we sought to investigate the role of the GABARAP-type proteins for cell surface protein trafficking. By analysing the surfaceome compositionofTKOs, we identified a subset of cell surface proteins with altered plasma membrane localisation. Taken together, we provide novel insights into an underrated aspect of autophagy-independent functions of the GABARAP subfamily and recommend considering the potential impact of GABARAP subfamily proteins on a plethora of processes during experimental analysis of GABARAP-deficient cells not only in the autophagic context.

De Novo and Inherited Variants in GBF1 are Associated with Axonal Neuropathy Caused by Golgi Fragmentation

Distal hereditary motor neuropathies (HMNs) and axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT2) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases characterized primarily by motor neuron degeneration and distal weakness. The genetic cause for about half of the individuals affected by HMN/CMT2 remains unknown. Here, we report the identification of pathogenic variants in GBF1 (Golgi brefeldin A-resistant guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1) in four unrelated families with individuals affected by sporadic or dominant HMN/CMT2. Genomic sequencing analyses in seven affected individuals uncovered four distinct heterozygous GBF1 variants, two of which occurred de novo. Other known HMN/CMT2-implicated genes were excluded. Affected individuals show HMN/CMT2 with slowly progressive distal muscle weakness and musculoskeletal deformities. Electrophysiological studies confirmed axonal damage with chronic neurogenic changes. Three individuals had additional distal sensory loss. GBF1 encodes a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor that facilitates the activation of members of the ARF (ADP-ribosylation factor) family of small GTPases. GBF1 is mainly involved in the formation of coatomer protein complex (COPI) vesicles, maintenance and function of the Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria migration and positioning. We demonstrate that GBF1 is present in mouse spinal cord and muscle tissues and is particularly abundant in neuropathologically relevant sites, such as the motor neuron and the growth cone. Consistent with the described role of GBF1 in Golgi function and maintenance, we observed marked increase in Golgi fragmentation in primary fibroblasts derived from all affected individuals in this study. Our results not only reinforce the existing link between Golgi fragmentation and neurodegeneration but also demonstrate that pathogenic variants in GBF1 are associated with HMN/CMT2.

Attenuation of cGAS/STING activity during mitosis

The innate immune system recognizes cytosolic DNA associated with microbial infections and cellular stress via the cGAS/STING pathway, leading to activation of phospho-IRF3 and downstream IFN-I and senescence responses. To prevent hyperactivation, cGAS/STING is presumed to be nonresponsive to chromosomal self-DNA during open mitosis, although specific regulatory mechanisms are lacking. Given a role for the Golgi in STING activation, we investigated the state of the cGAS/STING pathway in interphase cells with artificially vesiculated Golgi and in cells arrested in mitosis. We find that whereas cGAS activity is impaired through interaction with mitotic chromosomes, Golgi integrity has little effect on the enzyme's production of cGAMP. In contrast, STING activation in response to either foreign DNA (cGAS-dependent) or exogenous cGAMP is impaired by a vesiculated Golgi. Overall, our data suggest a secondary means for cells to limit potentially harmful cGAS/STING responses during open mitosis via natural Golgi vesiculation.

Glycans function as a Golgi export signal to promote the constitutive exocytic trafficking

Most proteins in the secretory pathway are glycosylated. However, the role of glycans in membrane trafficking is still unclear. Here, we discovered that transmembrane secretory cargos, such as interleukin 2 receptor α subunit or Tac, transferrin receptor, and cluster of differentiation 8a, unexpectedly displayed substantial Golgi localization when their O-glycosylation was compromised. By quantitatively measuring their Golgi residence times, we found that the observed Golgi localization of O-glycan–deficient cargos is due to their slow Golgi export. Using a superresolution microscopy method that we previously developed, we revealed that O-glycan–deficient Tac chimeras localize at the interior of the trans-Golgi cisternae. O-Glycans were observed to be both necessary and sufficient for the efficient Golgi export of Tac chimeras. By sequentially introducing O-glycosylation sites to ST6GAL1, we demonstrated that O-glycan's effect on Golgi export is probably additive. Finally, the finding that N-glycosylated GFP substantially reduces the Golgi residence time of a Tac chimera suggests that N-glycans might have a similar effect. Therefore, both O- and N-glycans might function as a generic Golgi export signal at the trans-Golgi to promote the constitutive exocytic trafficking.

Regulated resurfacing of a somatostatin receptor storage compartment fine-tunes pituitary secretion

In pituitary cells, internalized somatostatin receptor is held in a GLUT4-like storage compartment. The receptor rapidly resurfaces in response to selective signaling pathways in a process that fine-tunes pituitary hormone release.

The surfacing of the glucose transporter GLUT4 driven by insulin receptor activation provides the prototypic example of a homeostasis response dependent on mobilization of an intracellular storage compartment. Here, we generalize this concept to a G protein–coupled receptor, somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2), in pituitary cells. Following internalization in corticotropes, SSTR2 moves to a juxtanuclear syntaxin-6–positive compartment, where it remains until the corticotropes are stimulated with corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), whereupon SSTR2 exits the compartment on syntaxin-6–positive vesicular/tubular carriers that depend on Rab10 for their fusion with the plasma membrane. As SSTR2 activation antagonizes CRF-mediated hormone release, this storage/resurfacing mechanism may allow for a physiological homeostatic feedback system. In fact, we find that SSTR2 moves from an intracellular compartment to the cell surface in pituitary gland somatotropes, concomitant with increasing levels of serum growth hormone (GH) during natural GH cycles. Our data thus provide a mechanism by which signaling-mediated plasma membrane resurfacing of SSTR2 can fine-tune pituitary hormone release.

Microtubule Organization in Striated Muscle Cells

Distinctly organized microtubule networks contribute to the function of differentiated cell types such as neurons, epithelial cells, skeletal myotubes, and cardiomyocytes. In striated (i.e., skeletal and cardiac) muscle cells, the nuclear envelope acts as the dominant microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) and the function of the centrosome—the canonical MTOC of mammalian cells—is attenuated, a common feature of differentiated cell types. We summarize the mechanisms known to underlie MTOC formation at the nuclear envelope, discuss the significance of the nuclear envelope MTOC for muscle function and cell cycle progression, and outline potential mechanisms of centrosome attenuation.

The role of microtubules in secretory protein transport

Microtubules are part of the dynamic cytoskeleton network and composed of tubulin dimers. They are the main tracks used in cells to organize organelle positioning and trafficking of cargos. In this Review, we compile recent findings on the involvement of microtubules in anterograde protein transport. First, we highlight the importance of microtubules in organelle positioning. Second, we discuss the involvement of microtubules within different trafficking steps, in particular between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, traffic through the Golgi complex itself and in post-Golgi processes. A large number of studies have assessed the involvement of microtubules in transport of cargo from the Golgi complex to the cell surface. We focus here on the role of kinesin motor proteins and protein interactions in post-Golgi transport, as well as the impact of tubulin post-translational modifications. Last, in light of recent findings, we highlight the role microtubules have in exocytosis, the final step of secretory protein transport, occurring close to focal adhesions.

Spatiotemporal Control of Intracellular Membrane Trafficking by Rho GTPases

As membrane-associated master regulators of cytoskeletal remodeling, Rho GTPases coordinate a wide range of biological processes such as cell adhesion, motility, and polarity. In the last years, Rho GTPases have also been recognized to control intracellular membrane sorting and trafficking steps directly; however, how Rho GTPase signaling is regulated at endomembranes is still poorly understood. In this review, we will specifically address the local Rho GTPase pools coordinating intracellular membrane trafficking with a focus on the endo- and exocytic pathways. We will further highlight the spatiotemporal molecular regulation of Rho signaling at endomembrane sites through Rho regulatory proteins, the GEFs and GAPs. Finally, we will discuss the contribution of dysregulated Rho signaling emanating from endomembranes to the development and progression of cancer.

New factors for protein transport identified by a genome-wide CRISPRi screen in mammalian cells

Protein and membrane trafficking pathways are critical for cell and tissue homeostasis. Traditional genetic and biochemical approaches have shed light on basic principles underlying these processes. However, the list of factors required for secretory pathway function remains incomplete, and mechanisms involved in their adaptation poorly understood. Here, we present a powerful strategy based on a pooled genome-wide CRISPRi screen that allowed the identification of new factors involved in protein transport. Two newly identified factors, TTC17 and CCDC157, localized along the secretory pathway and were found to interact with resident proteins of ER-Golgi membranes. In addition, we uncovered that upon TTC17 knockdown, the polarized organization of Golgi cisternae was altered, creating glycosylation defects, and that CCDC157 is an important factor for the fusion of transport carriers to Golgi membranes. In conclusion, our work identified and characterized new actors in the mechanisms of protein transport and secretion and opens stimulating perspectives for the use of our platform in physiological and pathological contexts.

BML-265 and Tyrphostin AG1478 Disperse the Golgi Apparatus and Abolish Protein Transport in Human Cells

The steady-state localization of Golgi-resident glycosylation enzymes in the Golgi apparatus depends on a balance between anterograde and retrograde transport. Using the Retention Using Selective Hooks (RUSH) assay and high-content screening, we identified small molecules that perturb the localization of Mannosidase II (ManII) used as a model cargo for Golgi resident enzymes. In particular, we found that two compounds known as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, namely BML-265 and Tyrphostin AG1478 disrupt Golgi integrity and abolish secretory protein transport of diverse cargos, thus inducing brefeldin A-like effects. Interestingly, BML-265 and Tyrphostin AG1478 affect Golgi integrity and transport in human cells but not in rodent cells. The effects of BML-265 are reversible since Golgi integrity and protein transport are quickly restored upon washout of the compounds. BML-265 and Tyrphostin AG1478 do not lead to endosomal tubulation suggesting that, contrary to brefeldin A, they do not target the trans-Golgi ARF GEF BIG1 and BIG2. They quickly induce COPI dissociation from Golgi membranes suggesting that, in addition to EGFR kinase, the cis-Golgi ARF GEF GBF1 might also be a target of these molecules. Accordingly, overexpression of GBF1 prevents the effects of BML-265 and Tyrphostin AG1478 on Golgi integrity.

The organization of Golgi in Drosophila bristles requires microtubule motor protein function and a properly organized microtubule array

In the present report, we used highly elongated Drosophila bristle cells to dissect the role of dynein heavy chain (Dhc64C) in Golgi organization. We demonstrated that whereas in the bristle "somal" region Golgi units are composed of cis-, medial, and trans-Golgi compartments ("complete Golgi"), the bristle shaft contains Golgi satellites that lack the trans-Golgi compartment (hereafter referred to as "incomplete Golgi") and which are static and localized at the base area. However, in Dhc64C mutants, the entire bristle shaft was filled with complete Golgi units containing ectopic trans-Golgi components. To further understand Golgi bristle organization, we tested the roles of microtubule (MT) polarity and the Dhc-opposing motor, kinesin heavy chain (Khc). For our surprise, we found that in Khc and Ik2Dominant-negative (DN) flies in which the polarized organization of MTs is affected, the bristle shaft was filled with complete Golgi, similarly to what is seen in Dhc64C flies. Thus, we demonstrated that MTs and the motor proteins Dhc and Khc are required for bristle Golgi organization. However, the fact that both Dhc64C and Khc flies showed similar Golgi defects calls for an additional work to elucidate the molecular mechanism describing why these factors are required for bristle Golgi organization.

Targeting CCR5 trafficking to inhibit HIV-1 infection

Using a cell-based assay monitoring differential protein transport in the secretory pathway coupled to high-content screening, we have identified three molecules that specifically reduce the delivery of the major co-receptor for HIV-1, CCR5, to the plasma membrane. They have no effect on the closely related receptors CCR1 and CXCR4. These molecules are also potent in primary macrophages as they markedly decrease HIV entry. At the molecular level, two of these molecules inhibit the critical palmitoylation of CCR5 and thereby block CCR5 in the early secretory pathway. Our results open a clear therapeutics avenue based on trafficking control and demonstrate that preventing HIV infection can be performed at the level of its receptor delivery.

Misplaced Golgi Elements Produce Randomly Oriented Microtubules and Aberrant Cortical Arrays of Microtubules in Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Differentiated mammalian cells and tissues, such as skeletal muscle fibers, acquire an organization of Golgi complex and microtubules profoundly different from that in proliferating cells and still poorly understood. In adult rodent skeletal muscle, the multinucleated muscle fibers have hundreds of Golgi elements (GE), small stacks of cisternae that serve as microtubule-organizing centers. We are interested in the role of the GE in organizing a peculiar grid of microtubules located in the fiber cortex, against the sarcolemma. Modifications of this grid in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy have led to identifying dystrophin, the protein missing in both human disease and mouse model, as a microtubule guide. Compared to wild-type (WT), mdx microtubules are disordered and more dense and they have been linked to the dystrophic pathology. GE themselves are disordered in mdx. Here, to identify the causes of GE and microtubule alterations in the mdx muscle, we follow GFP-tagged microtubule markers in live mdx fibers and investigate the recovery of GE and microtubules after treatment with nocodazole. We find that mdx microtubules grow 10% faster but in 30% shorter bouts and that they begin to form a tangled network, rather than an orthogonal grid, right after nucleation from GE. Strikingly, a large fraction of microtubules in mdx muscle fibers seem to dissociate from GE after nucleation. Moreover, we report that mdx GE are mispositioned and increased in number and size. These results were replicated in WT fibers overexpressing the beta-tubulin tubb6, which is elevated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in mdx and in regenerating muscle. Finally, we examine the association of GE with ER exit sites and ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment, which starts during muscle differentiation, and find it persisting in mdx and tubb6 overexpressing fibers. We conclude that GE are full, small, Golgi complexes anchored, and positioned through ER Exit Sites. We propose a model in which GE mispositioning, together with the absence of microtubule guidance due to the lack of dystrophin, determines the differences in GE and microtubule organization between WT and mdx muscle fibers.