Identification of potential regulatory elements for the transport of Emp24p

TMED10 mediates the trafficking of insulin-like growth factor 2 along the secretory pathway for myoblast differentiation

The insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) plays critical roles in cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. Despite its importance, the molecular mechanisms mediating the trafficking of IGF2 along the secretory pathway remain unclear. Here, we utilized a Retention Using Selective Hook system to analyze molecular mechanisms that regulate the secretion of IGF2. We found that a type I transmembrane protein, TMED10, is essential for the secretion of IGF2 and for differentiation of mouse myoblast C2C12 cells. Further analyses indicate that the residues 112-140 in IGF2 are important for the secretion of IGF2 and these residues directly interact with the GOLD domain of TMED10. We then reconstituted the release of IGF2 into COPII vesicles. This assay suggests that TMED10 mediates the packaging of IGF2 into COPII vesicles to be efficiently delivered to the Golgi. Moreover, TMED10 also mediates ER export of TGN-localized cargo receptor, sortilin, which subsequently mediates TGN export of IGF2. These analyses indicate that TMED10 is critical for IGF2 secretion by directly regulating ER export and indirectly regulating TGN export of IGF2, providing insights into trafficking of IGF2 for myoblast differentiation.

The major cellulases CBH-1 and CBH-2 of Neurospora crassa rely on distinct ER cargo adaptors for efficient ER-exit

Filamentous fungi are native secretors of lignocellulolytic enzymes and are used as protein-producing factories in the industrial biotechnology sector. Despite the importance of these organisms in industry, relatively little is known about the filamentous fungal secretory pathway or how it might be manipulated for improved protein production. Here, we use Neurospora crassa as a model filamentous fungus to interrogate the requirements for trafficking of cellulase enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. We characterized the localization and interaction properties of the p24 and ERV-29 cargo adaptors, as well as their role in cellulase enzyme trafficking. We find that the two most abundantly secreted cellulases, CBH-1 and CBH-2, depend on distinct ER cargo adaptors for efficient exit from the ER. CBH-1 depends on the p24 proteins, whereas CBH-2 depends on the N. crassa homolog of yeast Erv29p. This study provides a first step in characterizing distinct trafficking pathways of lignocellulolytic enzymes in filamentous fungi.

ER retention is imposed by COPII protein sorting and attenuated by 4-phenylbutyrate

Native cargo proteins exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in COPII-coated vesicles, whereas resident and misfolded proteins are substantially excluded from vesicles by a retention mechanism that remains unresolved. We probed the ER retention process using the proteostasis regulator 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), which we show targets COPII protein to reduce the stringency of retention. 4-PBA competes with p24 proteins to bind COPII. When p24 protein uptake is blocked, COPII vesicles package resident proteins and an ER-trapped mutant LDL receptor. We further show that 4-PBA triggers the secretion of a KDEL-tagged luminal resident, implying that a compromised retention mechanism causes saturation of the KDEL retrieval system. The results indicate that stringent ER retention requires the COPII coat machinery to actively sort biosynthetic cargo from diffusible misfolded and resident ER proteins.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26624.001

Isoform-selective oligomer formation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae p24 family proteins

p24 family proteins are evolutionarily conserved transmembrane proteins involved in the early secretory pathway. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has 8 known p24 proteins that are classified into four subfamilies (p24α, -β, -γ, and -δ). Emp24 and Erv25 are the sole members of p24β and -δ, respectively, and deletion of either destabilizes the remaining p24 proteins, resulting in p24 null phenotype (p24Δ). We studied genetic and physical interactions of p24α (Erp1, -5, and -6) and γ (Erp2, -3, and -4). Deletion of the major p24α (Erp1) partially inhibited p24 activity as reported previously. A second mutation in either Erp5 or Erp6 aggravated the erp1Δ phenotype, and the triple mutation gave a full p24Δ phenotype. Similar genetic interactions were observed among the major p24γ (Erp2) and the other two γ members. All the p24α/γ isoforms interacted with both p24β and -δ. Interaction between p24β and -δ was isoform-selective, and five major α/γ pairs were detected. These results suggest that the yeast p24 proteins form functionally redundant αβγδ complexes. We also identified Rrt6 as a novel p24δ isoform. Rrt6 shows only limited sequence identity (∼15%) to known p24 proteins but was found to have structural properties characteristic of p24. Rrt6 was induced when cells were grown on glycerol and form an additional αβγδ complex with Erp3, Erp5, and Emp24. This complex was mainly localized to the Golgi, whereas the p24 complex containing Erv25, instead of Rrt6 but otherwise with the same isoform composition, was found mostly in the ER.

Identification of a novel ADAMTS9/GON-1 function for protein transport from the ER to the Golgi

ADAMTS9 is required for protein transport from the ER to the Golgi, which is dependent on the C-terminal GON domain but not on protease activity. This novel function of the GON domain is conserved in both C. elegans (GON-1) and mammalian cells (ADAMTS9). The GON domain acts inside the ER but not outside the cells.

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I motif (ADAMTS9) is a member of the secreted metalloprotease family that is believed to digest extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins outside of cells. Its Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue, GON-1, is involved in ECM degradation and is required for gonad morphogenesis. ADAMTS9 and GON-1 have similar domain structures, and both have a unique C-terminal domain called the “GON domain,” whose function remains unknown. Here we show that down-regulation of human ADAMTS9 and C. elegans GON-1 results in the inhibition of protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi. This phenotype was rescued by the expression of the GON domain localizing in the ER in human cells and C. elegans. We propose a novel function of ADAMTS9 and GON-1 in the ER that promotes protein transport from the ER to the Golgi. This function is GON-domain dependent but protease activity independent.

Vesicle-mediated ER export of proteins and lipids

In eukaryotic cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major site of synthesis of both lipids and proteins, many of which must be transported to other organelles. The COPII coat-comprising Sar1, Sec23/24, Sec13/31-generates transport vesicles that mediate the bulk of protein/lipid export from the ER. The coat exhibits remarkable flexibility in its ability to specifically select and accommodate a large number of cargoes with diverse properties. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of COPII vesicle production and describe recent advances that further our understanding of just how flexible COPII cargo recruitment and vesicle formation may be. Large or bulky cargo molecules (e.g. collagen rods and lipoprotein particles) exceed the canonical size for COPII vesicles and seem to rely on the additional action of recently identified accessory molecules. Although the bulk of the research has focused on the fate of protein cargo, the mechanisms and regulation of lipid transport are equally critical to cellular survival. From their site of synthesis in the ER, phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols exit the ER, either accompanying cargo in vesicles or directly across the cytoplasm shielded by lipid-transfer proteins. Finally, we highlight the current challenges to the field in addressing the physiological regulation of COPII vesicle production and the molecular details of how diverse cargoes, both proteins and lipids, are accommodated. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Lipids and Vesicular Transport.

Inhibition of cellular protein secretion by norwalk virus nonstructural protein p22 requires a mimic of an endoplasmic reticulum export signal

Protein trafficking between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus is central to cellular homeostasis. ER export signals are utilized by a subset of proteins to rapidly exit the ER by direct uptake into COPII vesicles for transport to the Golgi. Norwalk virus nonstructural protein p22 contains a YXΦESDG motif that mimics a di-acidic ER export signal in both sequence and function. However, unlike normal ER export signals, the ER export signal mimic of p22 is necessary for apparent inhibition of normal COPII vesicle trafficking, which leads to Golgi disassembly and antagonism of Golgi-dependent cellular protein secretion. This is the first reported function for p22. Disassembly of the Golgi apparatus was also observed in cells replicating Norwalk virus, which may contribute to pathogenesis by interfering with cellular processes that are dependent on an intact secretory pathway. These results indicate that the ER export signal mimic is critical to the antagonistic function of p22, shown herein to be a novel antagonist of ER/Golgi trafficking. This unique and well-conserved human norovirus motif is therefore an appealing target for antiviral drug development.

Dual loss of ER export and endocytic signals with altered melanosome morphology in the silver mutation of Pmel17

Pmel17 is a pigment cell-specific integral membrane protein that participates in the formation of the intralumenal fibrils upon which melanins are deposited in melanosomes. The Pmel17 cytoplasmic domain is truncated by the mouse silver mutation, which is associated with coat hypopigmentation in certain strain backgrounds. Here, we show that the truncation interferes with at least two steps in Pmel17 intracellular transport, resulting in defects in melanosome biogenesis. Human Pmel17 engineered with the truncation found in the mouse silver mutant (hPmel17si) is inefficiently exported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Localization and metabolic pulse-chase analyses with site-directed mutants and chimeric proteins show that this effect is due to the loss of a conserved C-terminal valine that serves as an ER exit signal. hPmel17si that exits the ER accumulates abnormally at the plasma membrane due to the loss of a di-leucine-based endocytic signal. The combined effects of reduced ER export and endocytosis significantly deplete Pmel17 within endocytic compartments and delay proteolytic maturation required for premelanosome-like fibrillogenesis. The ER export delay and cell surface retention are also observed for endogenous Pmel17si in melanocytes from silver mice, within which Pmel17 accumulation in premelanosomes is dramatically reduced. Mature melanosomes in these cells are larger, rounder, more highly pigmented, and less striated than in control melanocytes. These data reveal a dual sorting defect in a natural mutant of Pmel17 and support a requirement of endocytic trafficking in Pmel17 fibril formation.

An aberrant sequence in a connexin46 mutant underlies congenital cataracts

An increasing number of diseases have been mapped to genes coding for ion channel proteins, including the gap junction proteins, connexins. Here, we report on the identification of an amino acid sequence underlying the behavior of a non-functional mutant connexin46 (CX46) associated with congenital cataracts. The mutant protein, CX46fs380, is 31 amino acids longer than CX46 and contains 87 aberrant amino acids in its C terminus. When expressed in mammalian cells, the mutant CX46 was not found at gap junctional plaques, but it showed extensive co-localization with markers for ERGIC and Golgi. The severe reductions in function and formation of gap junctional plaques were transferred to other connexins by creating chimeras containing the last third (or more) of the aberrant C terminus of the CX46 mutant. This sequence also impaired trafficking of a CD8 chimera. Site-directed mutagenesis of a diphenylalanine restored appositional membrane localization and function. These results suggest a novel mechanism in which a mutation causes disease by generating a motif that leads to retention within the synthetic/secretory pathway.

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

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

Starvation triggers the delivery of the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole via autophagy in yeast

Autophagy is a survival mechanism necessary for eukaryotic cells to overcome nutritionally challenged environments. When autophagy is triggered, cells degrade nonselectively engulfed cytosolic proteins and free ribosomes that are evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The resulting pool of free amino acids is used to sustain processes crucial for survival. Here we characterize an autophagic degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) under starvation conditions in addition to cytosolic protein degradation. Golgi membrane protein was not engulfed by the autophagosome under the same conditions, indicating that the uptake of ER by autophagosome was the specific event. Although the ER exists in a network structure that is mutually connected and resides predominantly around the nucleus and beneath the plasma membrane, most of autophagosome engulfed ER. The extent of the ER uptake by autophagy was nearly identical to that of the soluble cytosolic proteins. This phenomenon was explained by the appearance of fragmented ER membrane structures in almost all autophagosomes. Furthermore, ER dynamism is required for this process: ER uptake by autophagosomes occurs in an actin-dependent manner.

The mechanisms of vesicle budding and fusion

Genetic and biochemical analyses of the secretory pathway have produced a detailed picture of the molecular mechanisms involved in selective cargo transport between organelles. This transport occurs by means of vesicular intermediates that bud from a donor compartment and fuse with an acceptor compartment. Vesicle budding and cargo selection are mediated by protein coats, while vesicle targeting and fusion depend on a machinery that includes the SNARE proteins. Precise regulation of these two aspects of vesicular transport ensures efficient cargo transfer while preserving organelle identity.

ER export of ERGIC-53 is controlled by cooperation of targeting determinants in all three of its domains

Selective export of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) requires transport signals that have not been fully characterized. Here, we provide the first complete map of ER export determinants of a type I membrane protein, ERGIC-53, that cycles in the early secretory pathway. ER export requires a phenylalanine motif at the C-terminus, known to mediate coat protein II (COPII) interaction, that is assisted by a glutamine in the cytoplasmic domain. Disulfide bond-stabilized oligomerization is also required. Efficient hexamerization depends on the presence of a polar and two aromatic residues in the transmembrane domain (TMD). Oligomerization becomes independent on disulfide bonds when TMD hydrophobicity is increased. ER export is also influenced by TMD length, 21 amino acids being most efficient. When transferred to a signal-less construct, the established targeting motifs reconstitute full transport activity. The results suggest an ER-export mechanism in which transmembrane and luminal determinants mediate oligomerization required for efficient recruitment of ERGIC-53 into budding vesicles via the C-terminal COPII-binding phenylalanine motif.

Variant of perivitelline membrane glycoprotein ZPC of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) lacking its cytoplasmic tail exhibits the retention in the endoplasmic reticulum of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells

Avian perivitelline membrane, an investment homologous to the mammalian zona pellucida, is composed of at least two glycoproteins. Our previous studies demonstrated that one of its components, ZPC, which is synthesized in the ovarian granulosa cells, is secreted after carboxy-terminal proteolytic processing, and this event is a prerequisite event for ZPC secretion in quail. In the present study, we examined the role of the cytoplasmic tail, which is successfully removed after proteolytic processing, in membrane transport, proteolytic processing, and the secretion of quail ZPC. In pursuit of this, we produced a truncated ZPC mutant lacking the cytoplasmic tail located in its C-terminus and examined its expression in the mammalian cell line. Western blot analyses demonstrated that the cytoplasmic tail-deficient ZPC was neither secreted nor underwent proteolytic processing in the cells. Immunofluorescence analysis and the acquisition of resistance to endoglycosidase H digestion of the cytoplasmic tail-deficient ZPC demonstrated that the deletion of the cytoplasmic tail interferes with the intracellular trafficking of the protein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. These results indicate that the cytoplasmic tail of quail ZPC might possess the determinant responsible for the efficient transport of the newly synthesized ZPC from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.

Multiple cargo binding sites on the COPII subunit Sec24p ensure capture of diverse membrane proteins into transport vesicles

We have characterized the mechanisms of cargo selection into ER-derived vesicles by the COPII subunit Sec24p. We identified a site on Sec24p that recognizes the v-SNARE Bet1p and show that packaging of a number of cargo molecules is disrupted when mutations are introduced at this site. Surprisingly, cargo proteins affected by these mutations did not share a single common sorting signal, nor were proteins sharing a putative class of signal affected to the same degree. We show that the same site is conserved as a cargo-interaction domain on the Sec24p homolog Lst1p, which only packages a subset of the cargoes recognized by Sec24p. Finally, we identified an additional mutation that defines another cargo binding domain on Sec24p, which specifically interacts with the SNARE Sec22p. Together, our data support a model whereby Sec24p proteins contain multiple independent cargo binding domains that allow for recognition of a diverse set of sorting signals.

Carboxy-terminal proteolytic processing at a consensus furin cleavage site is a prerequisite event for quail ZPC secretion

In avian species, a glycoprotein homologous to mammalian ZPC is synthesized in the granulosa cells of developing follicles. We have previously reported that the newly synthesized ZPC (proZPC) in granulosa cells is cleaved at a consensus furin cleavage site to generate mature ZPC prior to secretion. In the present study, we examined the effect of the proteolytic cleavage of proZPC on ZPC secretion by using a specific inhibitor of furin endoprotease and site-directed mutagenesis of the furin cleavage site. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the furin inhibitor efficiently blocked both the proteolytic cleavage of proZPC and the subsequent ZPC secretion. A site-directed mutant that possessed a mutated sequence for furin cleavage was not secreted from the cells. The immunocytochemical observations indicated that proZPC produced in the presence of a furin inhibitor or those produced by the site-directed mutant of the furin cleavage site had accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum. These results indicate that proZPC is proteolytically cleaved at the consensus furin cleavage site with furin-like protease, and the failure of this cleavage results in its accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, the C-terminal proteolytic processing of proZPC at the consensus furin cleavage site is a prerequisite event for quail ZPC secretion.

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

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

A genetic link between the unfolded protein response and vesicle formation from the endoplasmic reticulum

Protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus is mediated by transport vesicles coated with the coat protein complex II (COPII). In the process of searching for novel factors that participate in the formation of COPII-coated vesicles (COPII vesicles), we isolated high-copy suppressors of a sec24-20 mutant defective in COPII vesicle formation from the ER at the restrictive temperature. Unexpectedly, one of them was identified as HAC1, a gene encoding the basic leucine-zipper type transcription factor Hac1p. Hac1p is essential for a signaling cascade activated by ER stress, termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, that leads from the ER to the nucleus. Overexpression of another UPR-related gene IRE1, which encodes an ER-resident transmembrane protein kinase/ribonuclease, also suppressed the growth defect of the sec24-20 mutant in a HAC1-dependent manner. Moreover, overexpression of IRE1 specifically suppressed growth defects of other sec mutants defective in COPII vesicle formation. These findings suggest that the activation of the UPR affects ER-to-Golgi transport via stimulation of COPII vesicle formation from the ER.

Role of cytoplasmic C-terminal amino acids of membrane proteins in ER export

Export of membrane proteins from the ER is believed to be selective and require transport signals, but the identity of such signals has remained elusive. The recycling type I membrane protein ERGIC-53 carries a C-terminal diphenylalanine motif that is required for efficient ER export. Here we show that this motif can be functionally substituted by a single phenylalanine or tyrosine at position -2, two leucines or isoleucines at position -1 and -2 or a single valine at position -1. These motifs are common among mammalian type I membrane proteins. A single C-terminal valine, but none of the other motifs,accelerates transport of inefficiently exported reporter constructs and hence operates as an export signal. The valine signal is position, but not context,dependent. All transport motifs mediate COPII binding in vitro with distinct preferences for the COPII subunits Sec23p, Sec24Bp, Sec24Cp and p125. These results suggest that cytoplasmic C-terminal amino-acid motifs, either alone or in conjunction with other transport determinants, accelerate ER export of numerous type I and probably polytopic membrane proteins by mediating interaction with COPII coat components.

An acidic sequence of a putative yeast Golgi membrane protein binds COPII and facilitates ER export

We previously identified Sys1p as a high copy number suppressor of Ypt6 GTPase-deficient yeast mutants that are defective in endosome-to-Golgi transport. Here, we show that Sys1p is an integral membrane protein that resides on a post-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) organelle(s). Affinity studies with detergent- solubilized yeast proteins showed that the C-terminal 53 amino acid tail of Sys1p binds effectively to the cytoplasmic Sec23p-Sec24p COPII subcomplex. This binding required a di-acidic Asp-Leu-Glu (DXE) motif, previously shown to mediate efficient ER export of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein in mammalian cells. In Sys1p, a Glu-Leu-Glu (EXE) sequence could not substitute for the (DXE) motif. Mutations of the (DXE) sequence resulted in ER retention of approximately 30% of the protein at steady state, whereas addition of the Sys1p tail to an ER-resident membrane protein led to an intracellular redistribution of the chimeric protein. Our study demonstrates for the first time that, in yeast, a di-acidic sequence motif can act as a sorting signal for cargo selection during the formation of transport vesicles at the ER by direct binding to COPII component(s).

Distinct roles for the cytoplasmic tail sequences of Emp24p and Erv25p in transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex

Heteromeric complexes of p24 proteins cycle between early compartments of the secretory pathway and are required for efficient protein sorting. Here we investigated the role of cytoplasmically exposed tail sequences on two p24 proteins, Emp24p and Erv25p, in directing their movement and subcellular location in yeast. Studies on a series of deletion and chimeric Emp24p-Erv25p proteins indicated that the tail sequences impart distinct functional properties that were partially redundant but not entirely interchangeable. Export of an Emp24p-Erv25p complex from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) did not depend on two other associated p24 proteins, Erp1 and Erp2p. To examine interactions between the Emp24p and Erv25p tail sequences with the COPI and COPII coat proteins, binding experiments with immobilized tail peptides and coat proteins were performed. The Emp24p and Erv25p tail sequences bound the Sec13p/Sec31p subunit of the COPII coat (K(d) approximately 100 microm), and binding depended on a pair of aromatic residues found in both tail sequences. COPI subunits also bound to these Emp24p and Erv25p peptides; however, the Erv25p tail sequence, which contains a dilysine motif, bound COPI more efficiently. These results suggest that both the Emp24p and Erv25p cytoplasmic sequences contain a di-aromatic motif that binds subunits of the COPII coat and promotes export from the ER. The Erv25p tail sequence binds COPI and is responsible for returning this complex to the ER.

The carboxyl-terminal valine is required for transport of glycoprotein CD8 alpha from the endoplasmic reticulum to the intermediate compartment

There is evidence that a carboxyl-terminal valine residue is an anterograde transport signal for type I transmembrane proteins. Removal of the signal would either delay glycosylation in the Golgi complex of proteins destined to recycle to the endoplasmic reticulum or determine accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum of newly synthesized proteins destined for the plasma membrane. We used the human CD8 alpha glycoprotein to investigate the role of the carboxyl-terminal valine in the exocytic pathway. Using immunofluorescence light microscopy, metabolic labeling, and cell fractionation, we demonstrate that removal of the carboxyl-terminal valine residue delays transport of CD8 alpha from the endoplasmic reticulum to the intermediate compartment. Removal of the residue did not affect the other steps of the exocytic pathway or the folding/dimerization and glycosylation processes. Therefore, it is likely that this signal plays a role in the transport of CD8 alpha from the endoplasmic reticulum to the intermediate compartment either before or during the formation of the transport vesicles that drive the exit the protein from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Sfb2p, a yeast protein related to Sec24p, can function as a constituent of COPII coats required for vesicle budding from the endoplasmic reticulum

The COPII coat is required for vesicle budding from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and consists of two heterodimeric subcomplexes, Sec23p/Sec24p, Sec13p/Sec31p, and a small GTPase, Sar1p. We characterized a yeast mutant, anu1 (abnormal nuclear morphology) exhibiting proliferated ER as well as abnormal nuclear morphology at the restrictive temperature. Based on the finding that ANU1 is identical to SEC24, we confirmed a temperature-sensitive protein transport from the ER to the Golgi in anu1-1/sec24-20 cells. Overexpression of SFB2, a SEC24 homologue with 56% identity, partially suppressed not only the mutant phenotype of sec24-20 cells but also rescued the SEC24-disrupted cells. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that Sfb2p, similarly to Sec24p, interacted with Sec23p. In SEC24-disrupted cells rescued by overexpression of SFB2, some cargo proteins were still retained in the ER, while most of the protein transport was restored. Together, these findings strongly suggest that Sfb2p functions as the component of COPII coats in place of Sec24p, and raise the possibility that each member of the SEC24 family of proteins participates directly and/or indirectly in cargo-recognition events with its own cargo specificity at forming ER-derived vesicles.

The transmembrane protein p23 contributes to the organization of the Golgi apparatus

In previous studies we have shown that p23, a member of the p24-family of small transmembrane proteins, is highly abundant in membranes of the cis-Golgi network (CGN), and is involved in sorting/trafficking in the early secretory pathway. In the present study, we have further investigated the role of p23 after ectopic expression. We found that ectopically expressed p23 folded and oligomerized properly, even after overexpression. However, in contrast to endogenous p23, exogenous p23 molecules did not localize to the CGN, but induced a significant expansion of characteristic smooth ER membranes, where they accumulated in high amounts. This ER-derived, p23-rich subdomain displayed a highly regular morphology, consisting of tubules and/or cisternae of constant diameter, which were reminiscent of the CGN membranes containing p23 in control cells. The expression of exogenous p23 also led to the specific relocalization of endogenous p23, but not of other proteins, to these specialized ER-derived membranes. Relocalization of p23 modified the ultrastructure of the CGN and Golgi membranes, but did not affect anterograde and retrograde transport reactions to any significant extent. We conclude (i) that p23 has a morphogenic activity that contributes to the morphology of CGN-membranes; and (ii) that the presence of p23 in the CGN is necessary for the proper organization of the Golgi apparatus.

A PDZ-interacting domain in CFTR is an apical membrane polarization signal

Polarization of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated chloride channel, to the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells is critical for vectorial transport of chloride in a variety of epithelia, including the airway, pancreas, intestine, and kidney. However, the motifs that localize CFTR to the apical membrane are unknown. We report that the last 3 amino acids in the COOH-terminus of CFTR (T-R-L) comprise a PDZ-interacting domain that is required for the polarization of CFTR to the apical plasma membrane in human airway and kidney epithelial cells. In addition, the CFTR mutant, S1455X, which lacks the 26 COOH-terminal amino acids, including the PDZ-interacting domain, is mispolarized to the lateral membrane. We also demonstrate that CFTR binds to ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50), an apical membrane PDZ domain-containing protein. We propose that COOH-terminal deletions of CFTR, which represent about 10% of CFTR mutations, result in defective vectorial chloride transport, partly by altering the polarized distribution of CFTR in epithelial cells. Moreover, our data demonstrate that PDZ-interacting domains and PDZ domain-containing proteins play a key role in the apical polarization of ion channels in epithelial cells.

Localization and recycling of gp27 (hp24gamma3): complex formation with other p24 family members

We report here the characterization of gp27 (hp24gamma3), a glycoprotein of the p24 family of small and abundant transmembrane proteins of the secretory pathway. Immunoelectron and confocal scanning microscopy show that at steady state, gp27 localizes to the cis side of the Golgi apparatus. In addition, some gp27 was detected in COPI- and COPII-coated structures throughout the cytoplasm. This indicated cycling that was confirmed in three ways. First, 15 degrees C temperature treatment resulted in accumulation of gp27 in pre-Golgi structures colocalizing with anterograde cargo. Second, treatment with brefeldin A caused gp27 to relocate into peripheral structures positive for both KDEL receptor and COPII. Third, microinjection of a dominant negative mutant of Sar1p trapped gp27 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by blocking ER export. Together, this shows that gp27 cycles extensively in the early secretory pathway. Immunoprecipitation and coexpression studies further revealed that a significant fraction of gp27 existed in a hetero-oligomeric complex. Three members of the p24 family, GMP25 (hp24alpha2), p24 (hp24beta1), and p23 (hp24delta1), coprecipitated in what appeared to be stochiometric amounts. This heterocomplex was specific. Immunoprecipitation of p26 (hp24gamma4) failed to coprecipitate GMP25, p24, or p23. Also, very little p26 was found coprecipitating with gp27. A functional requirement for complex formation was suggested at the level of ER export. Transiently expressed gp27 failed to leave the ER unless other p24 family proteins were coexpressed. Comparison of attached oligosaccharides showed that gp27 and GMP25 recycled differentially. Only a very minor portion of GMP25 displayed complex oligosaccharides. In contrast, all of gp27 showed modifications by medial and trans enzymes at steady state. We conclude from these data that a portion of gp27 exists as hetero-oligomeric complexes with GMP25, p24, and p23 and that these complexes are in dynamic equilibrium with individual p24 proteins to allow for differential recycling and distributions.

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

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