The biosynthetic-secretory pathway, supplemented by recycling routes, determines epithelial membrane polarity

In prevailing epithelial polarity models, membrane-based polarity cues (e.g., the partitioning-defective PARs) position apicobasal cellular membrane domains. Intracellular vesicular trafficking expands these domains by sorting polarized cargo toward them. How the polarity cues themselves are polarized in epithelia and how sorting confers long-range apicobasal directionality to vesicles is still unclear. Here, a systems-based approach using two-tiered C. elegans genomics-genetics screens identifies trafficking molecules that are not implicated in apical sorting yet polarize apical membrane and PAR complex components. Live tracking of polarized membrane biogenesis indicates that the biosynthetic-secretory pathway, linked to recycling routes, is asymmetrically oriented toward the apical domain during this domain's biosynthesis, and that this directionality is regulated upstream of PARs and independent of polarized target membrane domains. This alternative mode of membrane polarization could offer solutions to open questions in current models of epithelial polarity and polarized trafficking.

Branched-chain actin dynamics polarizes vesicle trajectories and partitions apicobasal epithelial membrane domains

In prevailing epithelial polarity models, membrane- and junction-based polarity cues such as the partitioning-defective PARs specify the positions of apicobasal membrane domains. Recent findings indicate, however, that intracellular vesicular trafficking can determine the position of the apical domain, upstream of membrane-based polarity cues. These findings raise the question of how vesicular trafficking becomes polarized independent of apicobasal target membrane domains. Here, we show that the apical directionality of vesicle trajectories depends on actin dynamics during de novo polarized membrane biogenesis in the C. elegans intestine. We find that actin, powered by branched-chain actin modulators, determines the polarized distribution of apical membrane components, PARs, and itself. Using photomodulation, we demonstrate that F-actin travels through the cytoplasm and along the cortex toward the future apical domain. Our findings support an alternative polarity model where actin-directed trafficking asymmetrically inserts the nascent apical domain into the growing epithelial membrane to partition apicobasal membrane domains.

Polarized transport of membrane and secreted proteins during lumen morphogenesis

A ubiquitous feature of animal development is the formation of fluid-filled cavities or lumina, which transport gases and fluids across tissues and organs. Among different species, lumina vary drastically in size, scale, and complexity. However, all lumen formation processes share key morphogenetic principles that underly their development. Fundamentally, a lumen simply consists of epithelial cells that encapsulate a continuous internal space, and a common way of building a lumen is via opening and enlarging by filling it with fluid and/or macromolecules. Here, we discuss how polarized targeting of membrane and secreted proteins regulates lumen formation, mainly focusing on ion transporters in vertebrate model systems. We also discuss mechanistic differences observed among invertebrates and vertebrates and describe how the unique properties of the Na+/K+-ATPase and junctional proteins can promote polarization of immature epithelia to build lumina de novo in developing organs.

Multifaceted control of E-cadherin dynamics by Adaptor Protein Complex 1 during epithelial morphogenesis

Intracellular trafficking regulates the distribution of transmembrane proteins including the key determinants of epithelial polarity and adhesion. The Adaptor Protein 1 (AP-1) complex is the key regulator of vesicle sorting, which binds many specific cargoes. We examined roles of the AP-1 complex in epithelial morphogenesis, using the Drosophila wing as a paradigm. We found that AP-1 knockdown leads to ectopic tissue folding, which is consistent with the observed defects in integrin targeting to the basal cell-extracellular matrix adhesion sites. This occurs concurrently with an integrin-independent induction of cell death, which counteracts elevated proliferation and prevents hyperplasia. We discovered a distinct pool of AP-1 that localizes at the subapical adherens junctions. Upon AP-1 knockdown, E-cadherin is hyperinternalized from these junctions and becomes enriched at the Golgi and recycling endosomes. We then provide evidence that E-cadherin hyperinternalization acts upstream of cell death in a potential tumor-suppressive mechanism. Simultaneously, cells compensate for elevated internalization of E-cadherin by increasing its expression to maintain cell-cell adhesion.

Self-organization of apical membrane protein sorting in epithelial cells

Polarized epithelial cells are characterized by the asymmetric distribution of proteins between apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane. This asymmetry is highly conserved and is fundamental to epithelial cell physiology, development, and homeostasis. How proteins are segregated for apical or basolateral delivery, a process known as sorting, has been the subject of considerable investigation for decades. Despite these efforts, the rules guiding apical sorting are poorly understood and remain controversial. Here, we consider mechanisms of apical membrane protein sorting and argue that they are largely driven by self-organization and biophysical principles. The preponderance of data to date is consistent with the idea that apical sorting is not ruled by a dedicated protein-based sorting machinery and relies instead on the concerted effects of oligomerization, phase separation of lipids and proteins in membranes, and pH-dependent glycan interactions.

The C. elegans TspanC8 tetraspanin TSP-14 exhibits isoform-specific localization and function

Tetraspanin proteins are a unique family of highly conserved four-pass transmembrane proteins in metazoans. While much is known about their biochemical properties, the in vivo functions and distribution patterns of different tetraspanin proteins are less understood. Previous studies have shown that two paralogous tetraspanins that belong to the TspanC8 subfamily, TSP-12 and TSP-14, function redundantly to promote both Notch signaling and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in C. elegans. TSP-14 has two isoforms, TSP-14A and TSP-14B, where TSP-14B has an additional 24 amino acids at its N-terminus compared to TSP-14A. By generating isoform specific knock-ins and knock-outs using CRISPR, we found that TSP-14A and TSP-14B share distinct as well as overlapping expression patterns and functions. While TSP-14A functions redundantly with TSP-12 to regulate body size and embryonic and vulva development, TSP-14B primarily functions redundantly with TSP-12 to regulate postembryonic mesoderm development. Importantly, TSP-14A and TSP-14B exhibit distinct subcellular localization patterns. TSP-14A is localized apically and on early and late endosomes. TSP-14B is localized to the basolateral cell membrane. We further identified a di-leucine motif within the N-terminal 24 amino acids of TSP-14B that serves as a basolateral membrane targeting sequence, and showed that the basolateral membrane localization of TSP-14B is important for its function. Our work highlights the diverse and intricate functions of TspanC8 tetraspanins in C. elegans, and demonstrates the importance of dissecting the functions of these important proteins in an intact living organism.

Tetraspanin proteins are a unique family of highly conserved four-pass transmembrane proteins in higher eukaryotes. Abnormal expression of certain tetraspanins is associated with various types of diseases, including cancer. Understanding the functions of different tetraspanin proteins in vivo is crucial in deciphering the link between tetraspanins and their associated disease states. We have previously identified two tetraspanins, TSP-12 and TSP-14, that share redundant functions in regulating multiple aspects of C. elegans development. Here we show that TSP-14 has two protein isoforms. Using CRISPR knock-in and knock-out technology, we have found that the two isoforms share unique, as well as overlapping expression patterns and functions. Furthermore, they exhibit distinct subcellular localization patterns. Our work highlights the diverse and intricate functions of tetraspanin proteins in a living multicellular organism, and demonstrates that protein isoforms are another mechanism C. elegans uses to increase the diversity and versatility of its proteome.

Saturated very long chain fatty acid configures glycosphingolipid for lysosome homeostasis in long-lived C. elegans

The contents of numerous membrane lipids change upon ageing. However, it is unknown whether and how any of these changes are causally linked to lifespan regulation. Acyl chains contribute to the functional specificity of membrane lipids. In this study, working with C. elegans, we identified an acyl chain-specific sphingolipid, C22 glucosylceramide, as a longevity metabolite. Germline deficiency, a conserved lifespan-extending paradigm, induces somatic expression of the fatty acid elongase ELO-3, and behenic acid (22:0) generated by ELO-3 is incorporated into glucosylceramide for lifespan regulation. Mechanistically, C22 glucosylceramide is required for the membrane localization of clathrin, a protein that regulates membrane budding. The reduction in C22 glucosylceramide impairs the clathrin-dependent autophagic lysosome reformation, which subsequently leads to TOR activation and longevity suppression. These findings reveal a mechanistic link between membrane lipids and ageing and suggest a model of lifespan regulation by fatty acid-mediated membrane configuration.

The membrane lipids change with ageing and function as regulatory molecules, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, the authors identify C22 glucosylceramide as a regulator of the longevity transcription factor SKN-1, and show that C22 glucosylceramide regulates lifespan by controlling lysosome homeostasis and subsequent TOR activation.

BBLN-1 is essential for intermediate filament organization and apical membrane morphology

Epithelial tubes are essential components of metazoan organ systems that control the flow of fluids and the exchange of materials between body compartments and the outside environment. The size and shape of the central lumen confer important characteristics to tubular organs and need to be carefully controlled. Here, we identify the small coiled-coil protein BBLN-1 as a regulator of lumen morphology in the C. elegans intestine. Loss of BBLN-1 causes the formation of bubble-shaped invaginations of the apical membrane into the cytoplasm of intestinal cells and abnormal aggregation of the subapical intermediate filament (IF) network. BBLN-1 interacts with IF proteins and localizes to the IF network in an IF-dependent manner. The appearance of invaginations is a result of the abnormal IF aggregation, indicating a direct role for the IF network in maintaining lumen homeostasis. Finally, we identify bublin (BBLN) as the mammalian ortholog of BBLN-1. When expressed in the C. elegans intestine, BBLN recapitulates the localization pattern of BBLN-1 and can compensate for the loss of BBLN-1 in early larvae. In mouse intestinal organoids, BBLN localizes subapically, together with the IF protein keratin 8. Our results therefore may have implications for understanding the role of IFs in regulating epithelial tube morphology in mammals.

Spatially resolved cell polarity proteomics of a human epiblast model

Critical early steps in human embryonic development include polarization of the inner cell mass, followed by formation of an expanded lumen that will become the epiblast cavity. Recently described three-dimensional (3D) human pluripotent stem cell-derived cyst (hPSC-cyst) structures can replicate these processes. To gain mechanistic insights into the poorly understood machinery involved in epiblast cavity formation, we interrogated the proteomes of apical and basolateral membrane territories in 3D human hPSC-cysts. APEX2-based proximity bioinylation, followed by quantitative mass spectrometry, revealed a variety of proteins without previous annotation to specific membrane subdomains. Functional experiments validated the requirement for several apically enriched proteins in cyst morphogenesis. In particular, we found a key role for the AP-1 clathrin adaptor complex in expanding the apical membrane domains during lumen establishment. These findings highlight the robust power of this proximity labeling approach for discovering novel regulators of epithelial morphogenesis in 3D stem cell-based models.

Multi-tissue patterning drives anterior morphogenesis of the C. elegans embryo

Complex structures derived from multiple tissue types are challenging to study in vivo, and our knowledge of how cells from different tissues are coordinated is limited. Model organisms have proven invaluable for improving our understanding of how chemical and mechanical cues between cells from two different tissues can govern specific morphogenetic events. Here we used Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to show how cells from three different tissues are coordinated to give rise to the anterior lumen. While some aspects of pharyngeal morphogenesis have been well-described, it is less clear how cells from the pharynx, epidermis and neuroblasts coordinate to define the location of the anterior lumen and supporting structures. Using various microscopy and software approaches, we define the movements and patterns of these cells during anterior morphogenesis. Projections from the anterior-most pharyngeal cells (arcade cells) provide the first visible markers for the location of the future lumen, and facilitate patterning of the surrounding neuroblasts. These neuroblast patterns control the rate of migration of the anterior epidermal cells, whereas the epidermal cells ultimately reinforce and control the position of the future lumen, as they must join with the pharyngeal cells for their epithelialization. Our studies are the first to characterize anterior morphogenesis in C. elegans in detail and should lay the framework for identifying how these different patterns are controlled at the molecular level.

Epithelial morphogenesis, tubulogenesis and forces in organogenesis

As multi-cellular organisms evolved from small clusters of cells to complex metazoans, biological tubes became essential for life. Tubes are typically thought of as mainly playing a role in transport, with the hollow space (lumen) acting as a conduit to distribute nutrients and waste, or for gas exchange. However, biological tubes also provide a platform for physiological, mechanical, and structural functions. Indeed, tubulogenesis is often a critical aspect of morphogenesis and organogenesis. C. elegans is made up of tubes that provide structural support and protection (the epidermis), perform the mechanical and enzymatic processes of digestion (the buccal cavity, pharynx, intestine, and rectum), transport fluids for osmoregulation (the excretory system), and execute the functions necessary for reproduction (the germline, spermatheca, uterus and vulva). Here we review our current understanding of the genetic regulation, molecular processes, and physical forces involved in tubulogenesis and morphogenesis of the epidermal, digestive and excretory systems in C. elegans.

Epidermal PAR-6 and PKC-3 are essential for larval development of C. elegans and organize non-centrosomal microtubules

The cortical polarity regulators PAR-6, PKC-3, and PAR-3 are essential for the polarization of a broad variety of cell types in multicellular animals. In C. elegans, the roles of the PAR proteins in embryonic development have been extensively studied, yet little is known about their functions during larval development. Using inducible protein degradation, we show that PAR-6 and PKC-3, but not PAR-3, are essential for postembryonic development. PAR-6 and PKC-3 are required in the epidermal epithelium for animal growth, molting, and the proper pattern of seam-cell divisions. Finally, we uncovered a novel role for PAR-6 in organizing non-centrosomal microtubule arrays in the epidermis. PAR-6 was required for the localization of the microtubule organizer NOCA-1/Ninein, and defects in a noca-1 mutant are highly similar to those caused by epidermal PAR-6 depletion. As NOCA-1 physically interacts with PAR-6, we propose that PAR-6 promotes non-centrosomal microtubule organization through localization of NOCA-1/Ninein.

Clathrin-independent endocytosis, retrograde trafficking, and cell polarity

Several mechanisms allow for cargo internalization into cells within membrane-bound endocytic carriers. How these internalization processes couple to specific pathways of intracellular distribution remains poorly explored. Here, we review uptake reactions that are independent of the conventional clathrin machinery. We discuss how these link to retrograde trafficking from endosomes to the Golgi apparatus and exemplify biological situations in which the polarized secretion capacity of the Golgi apparatus allows for retrograde cargoes to be delivered to specialized areas of the plasma membrane, such as the leading edge of migratory cells or the immunological synapse of immune cells. We also address the evidence that allows to position apicobasal polarity of epithelial cells in this context. The underlying theme is thereby the functional coupling between specific types of endocytosis to intracellular retrograde trafficking for protein cargoes that need to be localized in a highly polarized and dynamic manner to plasmalemmal subdomains.

Rab10, Crag and Ehbp1 regulate the basolateral transport of Na+K+ATPase in Drosophila photoreceptors

Cells in situ are often polarized and have multiple plasma membrane domains. To establish and maintain these domains, polarized transport is essential, and its impairment results in genetic disorders. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of polarized transport have not been elucidated. Drosophila photoreceptor offers an excellent model for studying this. We found that Rab10 impairment significantly reduced basolateral levels of Na+K+ATPase, mislocalizing it to the stalk membrane, which is a domain of the apical plasma membrane. Furthermore, the shrunken basolateral and the expanded stalk membranes were accompanied with abnormalities in the Golgi cisternae of Rab10-impaired retinas. The deficiencies of Rab10-GEF Crag or the Rab10 effector Ehbp1 phenocopied Rab10 deficiency, indicating that Crag, Rab10 and Ehbp1 work together for polarized trafficking of membrane proteins to the basolateral membrane. These phenotypes were similar to those seen upon deficiency of AP1 or clathrin, which are known to be involved in the basolateral transport in other systems. Additionally, Crag, Rab10 and Ehbp1 colocalized with AP1 and clathrin on the trans-side of Golgi stacks. Taken together, these results indicate that AP1 and clathrin, and Crag, Rab10 and Ehbp1 collaborate in polarized basolateral transport, presumably in the budding process in the trans-Golgi network.

The Hippo Pathway Is Essential for Maintenance of Apicobasal Polarity in the Growing Intestine of Caenorhabditis elegans

Although multiple determinants for establishing polarity in membranes of epithelial cells have been identified, the mechanism for maintaining apicobasal polarity is not fully understood. Here, we show that the conserved Hippo kinase pathway plays a role in the maintenance of apicobasal polarity in the developing intestine of Caenorhabditis elegans We screened suppressors of the mutation in wts-1-the gene that encodes the LATS kinase homolog, deficiency of which leads to disturbance of the apicobasal polarity of the intestinal cells and to eventual death of the organism. We identified several alleles of yap-1 and egl-44 that suppress the effects of this mutation. yap-1 encodes a homolog of YAP/Yki, and egl-44 encodes a homolog of TEAD/Sd. WTS-1 bound directly to YAP-1 and inhibited its nuclear accumulation in intestinal cells. We also found that NFM-1, which is a homolog of NF2/Merlin, functioned in the same genetic pathway as WTS-1 to regulate YAP-1 to maintain cellular polarity. Transcriptome analysis identified several target candidates of the YAP-1-EGL-44 complex including TAT-2, which encodes a putative P-type ATPase. In summary, we have delineated the conserved Hippo pathway in C. elegans consisting of NFM-1-WTS-1-YAP-1-EGL-44 and proved that the proper regulation of YAP-1 by upstream NFM-1 and WTS-1 is essential for maintenance of apicobasal membrane identities of the growing intestine.

A V0-ATPase-dependent apical trafficking pathway maintains the polarity of the intestinal absorptive membrane

Intestine function relies on the strong polarity of intestinal epithelial cells and the array of microvilli forming a brush border at their luminal pole. Combining a genetic RNA interference (RNAi) screen with in vivo super-resolution imaging in the Caenorhabditiselegans intestine, we found that the V0 sector of the vacuolar ATPase (V0-ATPase) controls a late apical trafficking step, involving Ras-related protein 11 (RAB-11)+ endosomes and the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) synaptosome-associated protein 29 (SNAP-29), and is necessary to maintain the polarized localization of both apical polarity modules and brush border proteins. We show that the V0-ATPase pathway also genetically interacts with glycosphingolipids and clathrin in enterocyte polarity maintenance. Finally, we demonstrate that silencing of the V0-ATPase fully recapitulates the severe structural, polarity and trafficking defects observed in enterocytes from individuals with microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) and use this new in vivo MVID model to follow the dynamics of microvillus inclusions. Thus, we describe a new function for V0-ATPase in apical trafficking and epithelial polarity maintenance and the promising use of the C. elegans intestine as an in vivo model to better understand the molecular mechanisms of rare genetic enteropathies.

A Model of Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type 1 Reveals a Role of Glycosphingolipids in Neuronal Polarity

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy Type 1 (HSAN1) is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited neuropathy, clinically characterized by a loss of distal peripheral sensory and motoneuronal function. Mutations in subunits of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) have been linked to the majority of HSAN1 cases. SPTs catalyze the condensation of l-serine with palmitoyl-CoA, the first committed and rate-limiting step in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Despite extensive investigation, the molecular pathogenesis of HSAN1 remains controversial. Here, we established a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of HSAN1 by generating a sptl-1(c363g) mutation, encoding SPTL-1(C121W) and equivalent to human SPTLC1^C133W, at the C. elegans genomic locus through CRISPR. The sptl-1(c363g) homozygous mutants exhibited the same larval lethality and epithelial polarity defect as observed in sptl-1(RNAi) animals, suggesting a loss-of-function effect of the SPTL-1(C121W) mutation. sptl-1(c363g)/+ heterozygous mutants displayed sensory dysfunction with concomitant neuronal morphology and axon-dendrite polarity defects, demonstrating that the C. elegans model recapitulates characteristics of the human disease. sptl-1(c363g)-derived neuronal defects were copied in animals with defective sphingolipid biosynthetic enzymes downstream of SPTL-1, including ceramide glucosyltransferases, suggesting that SPTLC1^C133W contributes to the HSAN1 pathogenesis by limiting the production of complex sphingolipids, including glucosylceramide. Overexpression of SPTL-1(C121W) led to similar epithelial and neuronal defects and to reduced levels of complex sphingolipids, specifically glucosylceramide, consistent with a dominant-negative effect of SPTL-1(C121W) that is mediated by loss of this downstream product. Genetic interactions between SPTL-1(C121W) and components of directional trafficking in neurons suggest that the neuronal polarity phenotype could be caused by glycosphingolipid-dependent defects in polarized vesicular trafficking.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The symptoms of inherited metabolic diseases are often attributed to the accumulation of toxic intermediates or byproducts, no matter whether the disease-causing enzyme participates in a biosynthetic or a degradation pathway. By showing that the phenotypes observed in a C. elegans model of HSAN1 disease could be caused by loss of a downstream product (glucosylceramide) rather than the accumulation of a toxic byproduct, our work provides new insights into the origins of the symptoms of inherited metabolic diseases while expanding the repertoire of sphingolipid functions, specifically, of glucosylceramides. These findings not only have their most immediate relevance for neuroprotective treatments for HSAN1, they may also have implications for a much broader range of neurologic conditions.

Clathrin and clathrin adaptor AP-1 control apical trafficking of megalin in the biosynthetic and recycling routes

Megalin (gp330, LRP-2) is a protein structurally related to the low-density lipoprotein receptor family that displays a large luminal domain with multiligand binding properties. Megalin localizes to the apical surface of multiple epithelia, where it participates in endocytosis of a variety of ligands performing roles important for development or homeostasis. We recently described the apical recycling pathway of megalin in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and found that it is a long-lived, fast recycling receptor with a recycling turnover of 15 min and a half-life of 4.8 h. Previous work implicated clathrin and clathrin adaptors in the polarized trafficking of fast recycling basolateral receptors. Hence, here we study the role of clathrin and clathrin adaptors in megalin’s apical localization and trafficking. Targeted silencing of clathrin or the γ1 subunit of clathrin adaptor AP-1 by RNA interference in MDCK cells disrupted apical localization of megalin, causing its redistribution to the basolateral membrane. In contrast, silencing of the γ2 subunit of AP-1 had no effect on megalin polarity. Trafficking assays we developed using FM4-HA-miniMegalin-GFP, a reversible conditional endoplasmic reticulum–retained chimera, revealed that clathrin and AP-1 silencing disrupted apical sorting of megalin in both biosynthetic and recycling routes. Our experiments demonstrate that clathrin and AP-1 control the sorting of an apical transmembrane protein.

The galectin LEC-5 is a novel binding partner for RAB-11

RAB-11/Rab11 is an endosomal GTPase with conserved roles in directional trafficking and apical domain formation in polarized epithelial cells. From a yeast two-hybrid screen using full-length C. elegans RAB-11 as bait, we identified LEC-5 as a novel binding protein for RAB-11. LEC-5 is an ortholog of mammalian Galectin-9 which associates with glycosphingolipids and is implicated in apical cargo sorting. We further confirmed the interaction between RAB-11 and LEC-5 via GST-pull down, co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation. In addition, we showed that LEC-5 binds to RAB-11 with its C-terminus. Our results indicate a novel role of RAB-11 in apical sorting via LEC-5. Such a role would extend RAB-11's function as a master regulator of apical trafficking and suggest it could translate apical sorting signals into apical vesicle directionality.

Cdc42 regulates junctional actin but not cell polarization in the Caenorhabditis elegans epidermis

During morphogenesis, adherens junctions (AJs) remodel to allow changes in cell shape and position while preserving adhesion. Here, we examine the function of Rho guanosine triphosphatase CDC-42 in AJ formation and regulation during Caenorhabditis elegans embryo elongation, a process driven by asymmetric epidermal cell shape changes. cdc-42 mutant embryos arrest during elongation with epidermal ruptures. Unexpectedly, we find using time-lapse fluorescence imaging that cdc-42 is not required for epidermal cell polarization or junction assembly, but rather is needed for proper junctional actin regulation during elongation. We show that the RhoGAP PAC-1/ARHGAP21 inhibits CDC-42 activity at AJs, and loss of PAC-1 or the interacting linker protein PICC-1/CCDC85A-C blocks elongation in embryos with compromised AJ function. pac-1 embryos exhibit dynamic accumulations of junctional F-actin and an increase in AJ protein levels. Our findings identify a previously unrecognized molecular mechanism for inhibiting junctional CDC-42 to control actin organization and AJ protein levels during epithelial morphogenesis.

Mechanisms of Cell Polarity-Controlled Epithelial Homeostasis and Immunity in the Intestine

Intestinal epithelial cell polarity is instrumental to maintain epithelial homeostasis and balance communications between the gut lumen and bodily tissue, thereby controlling the defense against gastrointestinal pathogens and maintenance of immune tolerance to commensal bacteria. In this review, we highlight recent advances with regard to the molecular mechanisms of cell polarity-controlled epithelial homeostasis and immunity in the human intestine.

Adherens Junctions on the Move-Membrane Trafficking of E-Cadherin

Cadherin-based adherens junctions are conserved structures that mediate epithelial cell-cell adhesion in invertebrates and vertebrates. Despite their pivotal function in epithelial integrity, adherens junctions show a remarkable plasticity that is a prerequisite for tissue architecture and morphogenesis. Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is continuously turned over and undergoes cycles of endocytosis, sorting and recycling back to the plasma membrane. Mammalian cell culture and genetically tractable model systems such as Drosophila have revealed conserved, but also distinct, mechanisms in the regulation of E-cadherin membrane trafficking. Here, we discuss our current knowledge about molecules and mechanisms controlling endocytosis, sorting and recycling of E-cadherin during junctional remodeling.

Bio-identity and fate of albumin-coated SPIONs evaluated in cells and by the C. elegans model

Nanoparticles which surface adsorb proteins in an uncontrolled and non-reproducible manner will have limited uses as nanomedicinal products. A promising approach to avoid nanoparticle non-specific interactions with proteins is to design bio-hybrids by purposely pre-forming a protein corona around the inorganic cores. Here, we investigate, in vitro and in vivo, the newly acquired bio-identity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) upon their functionalization with a pre-formed and well-defined bovine serum albumin (BSA) corona. Cellular uptake, intracellular particle distribution and cytotoxicity were studied in two cell lines: adherent and non-adherent cells. BSA decreases nanoparticle internalization in both cell lines and protects the iron core once they have been internalized. The physiological response to the nanoparticles is then in vivo evaluated by oral administration to Caenorhabditis elegans, which was selected as a model of a functional intestinal barrier. Nanoparticle biodistribution, at single particle resolution, is studied by transmission electron microscopy. The analysis reveals that the acidic intestinal environment partially digests uncoated SPIONs but does not affect BSA-coated ones. It also discloses that some particles could enter the nematode's enterocytes, likely by endocytosis which is a different pathway than the one described for the worm nutrients.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Unravelling meaningful relationships between the physiological impact of engineered nanoparticles and their synthetic and biological identity is of vital importance when considering nanoparticles biomedical uses and when establishing their nanotoxicological profile. This study contributes to better comprehend the inorganic nanoparticles' behavior in real biological milieus. We synthesized a controlled pre-formed BSA protein corona on SPIONs to lower unspecific cell uptake and decrease nanoparticle fouling with other proteins. Such findings may be of relevance considering clinical translation and regulatory issues of inorganic nanoparticles. Moreover, we have advanced in the validation of C. elegans as a simple animal model for assessing biological responses of engineering nanomaterials. The physiological response of BSA coated SPIONs was evaluated in vivo after their oral administration to C. elegans. Analyzing ultra-thin cross-sections of the worms by TEM with single-particle precision, we could track NP biodistribution along the digestive tract and determine unambiguously their translocation through biological barriers and cell membranes.

Complex Polarity: Building Multicellular Tissues Through Apical Membrane Traffic

The formation of distinct subdomains of the cell surface is crucial for multicellular organism development. The most striking example of this is apical-basal polarization. What is much less appreciated is that underpinning an asymmetric cell surface is an equally dramatic intracellular endosome rearrangement. Here, we review the interplay between classical cell polarity proteins and membrane trafficking pathways, and discuss how this marriage gives rise to cell polarization. We focus on those mechanisms that regulate apical polarization, as this is providing a number of insights into how membrane traffic and polarity are regulated at the tissue level.

Noncentrosomal microtubules in C. elegans epithelia

The microtubule cytoskeleton has a dual contribution to cell organization. First, microtubules help displace chromosomes and provide tracks for organelle transport. Second, microtubule rigidity confers specific mechanical properties to cells, which are crucial in cilia or mechanosensory structures. Here we review the recently uncovered organization and functions of noncentrosomal microtubules in C. elegans epithelia, focusing on how they contribute to nuclear positioning and protein transport. In addition, we describe recent data illustrating how the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons interact to achieve those functions.

Rab6 Is Required for Multiple Apical Transport Pathways but Not the Basolateral Transport Pathway in Drosophila Photoreceptors

Polarized membrane trafficking is essential for the construction and maintenance of multiple plasma membrane domains of cells. Highly polarized Drosophila photoreceptors are an excellent model for studying polarized transport. A single cross-section of Drosophila retina contains many photoreceptors with 3 clearly differentiated plasma membrane domains: a rhabdomere, stalk, and basolateral membrane. Genome-wide high-throughput ethyl methanesulfonate screening followed by precise immunohistochemical analysis identified a mutant with a rare phenotype characterized by a loss of 2 apical transport pathways with normal basolateral transport. Rapid gene identification using whole-genome resequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism mapping identified a nonsense mutation of Rab6 responsible for the apical-specific transport deficiency. Detailed analysis of the trafficking of a major rhabdomere protein Rh1 using blue light-induced chromophore supply identified Rab6 as essential for Rh1 to exit the Golgi units. Rab6 is mostly distributed from the trans-Golgi network to a Golgi-associated Rab11-positive compartment that likely recycles endosomes or transport vesicles going to recycling endosomes. Furthermore, the Rab6 effector, Rich, is required for Rab6 recruitment in the trans-Golgi network. Moreover, a Rich null mutation phenocopies the Rab6 null mutant, indicating that Rich functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rab6. The results collectively indicate that Rab6 and Rich are essential for the trans-Golgi network–recycling endosome transport of cargoes destined for 2 apical domains. However, basolateral cargos are sorted and exported from the trans-Golgi network in a Rab6-independent manner.

Cells in animal bodies have multiple plasma membrane domains; this polarized characteristic of cells is essential for their specific functions. Selective membrane transport pathways play key roles in the construction and maintenance of polarized structures. Drosophila photoreceptors with multiple plasma membrane domains are an excellent model of polarized transport. We performed genetic screening and identified a Rab6 null mutant with a rare phenotype characterized by a loss of 2 apical transport pathways with normal basolateral transport. Although Rab6 functions in the Golgi are well known, its function in polarized transport was unexpected. Here, we found that Rab6 and its effector, Rich, are required for multiple apical transport pathways but not the basolateral transport pathway. Our findings strongly indicate that the membrane proteins delivered to multiple polarized domains are not sorted simultaneously: basolateral cargos are segregated before the Rab6-dependent process, and cargos going to multiple apical domains are sorted after Rab6-dependent transport from the trans-Golgi network to the Golgi-associated Rab11-positive compartment, which presumably recycles endosomes. Our finding of the function of Rab6 in polarized transport will elucidate the molecular mechanisms of polarized transport.

Getting to the core of cadherin complex function in Caenorhabditis elegans

The classic cadherin-catenin complex (CCC) mediates cell-cell adhesion in metazoans. Although substantial insights have been gained by studying the CCC in vertebrate tissue culture, analyzing requirements for and regulation of the CCC in vertebrates remains challenging. Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful system for connecting the molecular details of CCC function with functional requirements in a living organism. Recent data, using an “angstroms to embryos” approach, have elucidated functions for key residues, conserved across all metazoans, that mediate cadherin/β-catenin binding. Other recent work reveals a novel, potentially ancestral, role for the C. elegans p120ctn homologue in regulating polarization of blastomeres in the early embryo via Cdc42 and the partitioning-defective (PAR)/atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) complex. Finally, recent work suggests that the CCC is trafficked to the cell surface via the clathrin adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1) in surprising ways. These studies continue to underscore the value of C. elegans as a model system for identifying conserved molecular mechanisms involving the CCC.

The localisation of the apical Par/Cdc42 polarity module is specifically affected in microvillus inclusion disease

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a genetic disorder affecting intestinal absorption. It is caused by mutations in MYO5B or syntaxin 3 (STX3) affecting apical membrane trafficking. Morphologically, MVID is characterised by a depletion of apical microvilli and the formation of microvillus inclusions inside the cells, suggesting a loss of polarity. To investigate this hypothesis, we examined the location of essential apical polarity determinants in five MVID patients.

RESULTS

We found that the polarity determinants Cdc42, Par6B, PKCζ/ι and the structural proteins ezrin and phospho-ezrin were lost from the apical membrane and accumulated either in the cytoplasm or on the basal side of enterocytes in patients, which suggests an inversion of cell polarity. Moreover, microvilli-like structures were observed at the basal side as per electron microscopy analysis. We next performed Myo5B depletion in three dimensional grown human Caco2 cells forming cysts and found a direct link between the loss of Myo5B and the mislocalisation of the same apical proteins; furthermore, we observed that a majority of cysts displayed an inverted polarity phenotype as seen in some patients. Finally, we found that this loss of polarity was specific for MVID: tissue samples of patients with Myo5B-independent absorption disorders showed normal polarity but we identified Cdc42 as a potentially essential biomarker for trichohepatoenteric syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the loss of Myo5B induces a strong loss of enterocyte polarity, potentially leading to polarity inversion.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results show that polarity determinants could be useful markers to help establishing a diagnosis in patients. Furthermore, they could be used to characterise other rare intestinal absorption diseases.

Compartmentalizing intestinal epithelial cell toll-like receptors for immune surveillance

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are membrane-bound microbial sensors that mediate important host-to-microbe responses. Cell biology aspects of TLR function have been intensively studied in professional immune cells, in particular the macrophages and dendritic cells, but not well explored in other specialized epithelial cell types. The adult intestinal epithelial cells are in close contact with trillions of enteric microbes and engage in lifelong immune surveillance. Mature intestinal epithelial cells, in contrast to immune cells, are highly polarized. Recent studies suggest that distinct mechanisms may govern TLR traffic and compartmentalization in these specialized epithelial cells to establish and maintain precise signaling of individual TLRs. We, using immune cells as references, discuss here the shared and/or unique molecular machineries used by intestinal epithelial cells to control TLR transport, localization, processing, activation, and signaling. A better understanding of these mechanisms will certainly generate important insights into both the mechanism and potential intervention of leading digestive disorders, in particular inflammatory bowel diseases.

Control of E-cadherin apical localisation and morphogenesis by a SOAP-1/AP-1/clathrin pathway in C. elegans epidermal cells

E-cadherin (E-cad) is the main component of epithelial junctions in multicellular organisms, where it is essential for cell-cell adhesion. The localisation of E-cad is often strongly polarised in the apico-basal axis. However, the mechanisms required for its polarised distribution are still largely unknown. We performed a systematic RNAi screen in vivo to identify genes required for the strict E-cad apical localisation in C. elegans epithelial epidermal cells. We found that the loss of clathrin, its adaptor AP-1 and the AP-1 interactor SOAP-1 induced a basolateral localisation of E-cad without affecting the apico-basal diffusion barrier. We further found that SOAP-1 controls AP-1 localisation, and that AP-1 is required for clathrin recruitment. Finally, we also show that AP-1 controls E-cad apical delivery and actin organisation during embryonic elongation, the final morphogenetic step of embryogenesis. We therefore propose that a molecular pathway, containing SOAP-1, AP-1 and clathrin, controls the apical delivery of E-cad and morphogenesis.

The AP2 clathrin adaptor protein complex regulates the abundance of GLR-1 glutamate receptors in the ventral nerve cord of Caenorhabditis elegans

Regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking controls synaptic strength and plasticity. This study takes advantage of viable, null mutations in subunits of the clathrin adaptor protein 2 (AP2) complex in Caenorhabditis elegans to reveal a novel and unexpected AP2-dependent trafficking step for glutamate receptors early in the secretory pathway.

Regulation of glutamate receptor (GluR) abundance at synapses by clathrin-mediated endocytosis can control synaptic strength and plasticity. We take advantage of viable, null mutations in subunits of the clathrin adaptor protein 2 (AP2) complex in Caenorhabditis elegans to characterize the in vivo role of AP2 in GluR trafficking. In contrast to our predictions for an endocytic adaptor, we found that levels of the GluR GLR-1 are decreased at synapses in the ventral nerve cord (VNC) of animals with mutations in the AP2 subunits APM-2/μ2, APA-2/α, or APS-2/σ2. Rescue experiments indicate that APM-2/μ2 functions in glr-1–expressing interneurons and the mature nervous system to promote GLR-1 levels in the VNC. Genetic analyses suggest that APM-2/μ2 acts upstream of GLR-1 endocytosis in the VNC. Consistent with this, GLR-1 accumulates in cell bodies of apm-2 mutants. However, GLR-1 does not appear to accumulate at the plasma membrane of the cell body as expected, but instead accumulates in intracellular compartments including Syntaxin-13– and RAB-14–labeled endosomes. This study reveals a novel role for the AP2 clathrin adaptor in promoting the abundance of GluRs at synapses in vivo, and implicates AP2 in the regulation of GluR trafficking at an early step in the secretory pathway.

The Role of the Clathrin Adaptor AP-1: Polarized Sorting and Beyond

The selective transport of proteins or lipids by vesicular transport is a fundamental process supporting cellular physiology. The budding process involves cargo sorting and vesicle formation at the donor membrane and constitutes an important process in vesicular transport. This process is particularly important for the polarized sorting in epithelial cells, in which the cargo molecules need to be selectively sorted and transported to two distinct destinations, the apical or basolateral plasma membrane. Adaptor protein (AP)-1, a member of the AP complex family, which includes the ubiquitously expressed AP-1A and the epithelium-specific AP-1B, regulates polarized sorting at the trans-Golgi network and/or at the recycling endosomes. A growing body of evidence, especially from studies using model organisms and animals, demonstrates that the AP-1-mediated polarized sorting supports the development and physiology of multi-cellular units as functional organs and tissues (e.g., cell fate determination, inflammation and gut immune homeostasis). Furthermore, a possible involvement of AP-1B in the pathogenesis of human diseases, such as Crohn's disease and cancer, is now becoming evident. These data highlight the significant contribution of AP-1 complexes to the physiology of multicellular organisms, as master regulators of polarized sorting in epithelial cells.

An AGEF-1/Arf GTPase/AP-1 ensemble antagonizes LET-23 EGFR basolateral localization and signaling during C. elegans vulva induction

LET-23 Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling specifies the vulval cell fates during C. elegans larval development. LET-23 EGFR localization on the basolateral membrane of the vulval precursor cells (VPCs) is required to engage the LIN-3 EGF-like inductive signal. The LIN-2 Cask/LIN-7 Veli/LIN-10 Mint (LIN-2/7/10) complex binds LET-23 EGFR, is required for its basolateral membrane localization, and therefore, vulva induction. Besides the LIN-2/7/10 complex, the trafficking pathways that regulate LET-23 EGFR localization have not been defined. Here we identify vh4, a hypomorphic allele of agef-1, as a strong suppressor of the lin-2 mutant Vulvaless (Vul) phenotype. AGEF-1 is homologous to the mammalian BIG1 and BIG2 Arf GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which regulate secretory traffic between the Trans-Golgi network, endosomes and the plasma membrane via activation of Arf GTPases and recruitment of the AP-1 clathrin adaptor complex. Consistent with a role in trafficking we show that AGEF-1 is required for protein secretion and that AGEF-1 and the AP-1 complex regulate endosome size in coelomocytes. The AP-1 complex has previously been implicated in negative regulation of LET-23 EGFR, however the mechanism was not known. Our genetic data indicate that AGEF-1 is a strong negative regulator of LET-23 EGFR signaling that functions in the VPCs at the level of the receptor. In line with AGEF-1 being an Arf GEF, we identify the ARF-1.2 and ARF-3 GTPases as also negatively regulating signaling. We find that the agef-1(vh4) mutation results in increased LET-23 EGFR on the basolateral membrane in both wild-type and lin-2 mutant animals. Furthermore, unc-101(RNAi), a component of the AP-1 complex, increased LET-23 EGFR on the basolateral membrane in lin-2 and agef-1(vh4); lin-2 mutant animals. Thus, an AGEF-1/Arf GTPase/AP-1 ensemble functions opposite the LIN-2/7/10 complex to antagonize LET-23 EGFR basolateral membrane localization and signaling.

Cargo sorting in the endocytic pathway: a key regulator of cell polarity and tissue dynamics

The establishment and maintenance of polarized plasma membrane domains is essential for cellular function and proper development of organisms. Epithelial cells polarize along two fundamental axes, the apicobasal and the planar, both depending on finely regulated protein trafficking mechanisms. Newly synthesized proteins destined for either surface domain are processed along the biosynthetic pathway and segregated into distinct subsets of transport carriers emanating from the trans-Golgi network or endosomes. This exocytic trafficking has been identified as essential for proper epithelial polarization. Accumulating evidence now reveals that endocytosis and endocytic recycling play an equally important role in epithelial polarization and the appropriate localization of key polarity proteins. Here, we review recent work in metazoan systems illuminating the connections between endocytosis, postendocytic trafficking, and cell polarity, both apicobasal and planar, in the formation of differentiated epithelial cells, and how these processes regulate tissue dynamics.

C. elegans as a model for membrane traffic

The counterbalancing action of the endocytosis and secretory pathways maintains a dynamic equilibrium that regulates the composition of the plasma membrane, allowing it to maintain homeostasis and to change rapidly in response to alterations in the extracellular environment and/or intracellular metabolism. These pathways are intimately integrated with intercellular signaling systems and play critical roles in all cells. Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans have revealed diverse roles of membrane trafficking in physiology and development and have also provided molecular insight into the fundamental mechanisms that direct cargo sorting, vesicle budding, and membrane fisson and fusion. In this review, we summarize progress in understanding membrane trafficking mechanisms derived from work in C. elegans, focusing mainly on work done in non-neuronal cell-types, especially the germline, early embryo, coelomocytes, and intestine.

Adaptor proteins involved in polarized sorting

Polarized cells such as epithelial cells and neurons exhibit different plasma membrane domains with distinct protein compositions. Recent studies have shown that sorting of transmembrane proteins to the basolateral domain of epithelial cells and the somatodendritic domain of neurons is mediated by recognition of signals in the cytosolic domains of the proteins by adaptors. These adaptors are components of protein coats associated with the trans-Golgi network and/or recycling endosomes. The clathrin-associated adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) complex plays a preeminent role in this process, although other adaptors and coat proteins, such as AP-4, ARH, Numb, exomer, and retromer, have also been implicated.

Vesicular sorting controls the polarity of expanding membranes in the C. elegans intestine

Biological tubes consist of polarized epithelial cells with apical membranes building the central lumen and basolateral membranes contacting adjacent cells or the extracellular matrix. Cellular polarity requires distinct inputs from outside the cell, e.g., the matrix, inside the cell, e.g., vesicular trafficking and the plasma membrane and its junctions.¹ Many highly conserved polarity cues have been identified, but their integration during the complex process of polarized tissue and organ morphogenesis is not well understood. It is assumed that plasma-membrane-associated polarity determinants, such as the partitioning-defective (PAR) complex, define plasma membrane domain identities, whereas vesicular trafficking delivers membrane components to these domains, but lacks the ability to define them. In vitro studies on lumenal membrane biogenesis in mammalian cell lines now indicate that trafficking could contribute to defining membrane domains by targeting the polarity determinants, e.g., the PARs, themselves.² This possibility suggests a mechanism for PARs’ asymmetric distribution on membranes and places vesicle-associated polarity cues upstream of membrane-associated polarity determinants. In such an upstream position, trafficking might even direct multiple membrane components, not only polarity determinants, an original concept of polarized plasma membrane biogenesis^3,4that was largely abandoned due to the failure to identify a molecularly defined intrinsic vesicular sorting mechanism. Our two recent studies on C. elegans intestinal tubulogenesis reveal that glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and the well-recognized vesicle components clathrin and its AP-1 adaptor are required for targeting multiple apical molecules, including polarity regulators, to the expanding apical/lumenal membrane.^5,6 These findings support GSLs’ long-proposed role in in vivo polarized epithelial membrane biogenesis and development and identify a novel function in apical polarity for classical post-Golgi vesicle components. They are also compatible with a vesicle-intrinsic sorting mechanism during membrane biogenesis and suggest a model for how vesicles could acquire apical directionality during the assembly of the functionally critical polarized lumenal surfaces of epithelial tubes.

Mutations in ap1b1 cause mistargeting of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase pump in sensory hair cells

The hair cells of the inner ear are polarized epithelial cells with a specialized structure at the apical surface, the mechanosensitive hair bundle. Mechanotransduction occurs within the hair bundle, whereas synaptic transmission takes place at the basolateral membrane. The molecular basis of the development and maintenance of the apical and basal compartments in sensory hair cells is poorly understood. Here we describe auditory/vestibular mutants isolated from forward genetic screens in zebrafish with lesions in the adaptor protein 1 beta subunit 1 (ap1b1) gene. Ap1b1 is a subunit of the adaptor complex AP-1, which has been implicated in the targeting of basolateral membrane proteins. In ap1b1 mutants we observed that although the overall development of the inner ear and lateral-line organ appeared normal, the sensory epithelium showed progressive signs of degeneration. Mechanically-evoked calcium transients were reduced in mutant hair cells, indicating that mechanotransduction was also compromised. To gain insight into the cellular and molecular defects in ap1b1 mutants, we examined the localization of basolateral membrane proteins in hair cells. We observed that the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase pump (NKA) was less abundant in the basolateral membrane and was mislocalized to apical bundles in ap1b1 mutant hair cells. Accordingly, intracellular Na(+) levels were increased in ap1b1 mutant hair cells. Our results suggest that Ap1b1 is essential for maintaining integrity and ion homeostasis in hair cells.

WAVE/SCAR promotes endocytosis and early endosome morphology in polarized C. elegans epithelia

Cells can use the force of actin polymerization to drive intracellular transport, but the role of actin in endocytosis is not clear. Studies in single-celled yeast demonstrate the essential role of the branched actin nucleator, Arp2/3, and its activating nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) in the process of invagination from the cell surface through endocytosis. However, some mammalian studies have disputed the need for F-actin and Arp2/3 in Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis (CME) in multicellular organisms. We investigate the role of Arp2/3 during endocytosis in Caenorhabditis elegans, a multicellular organism with polarized epithelia. Arp2/3 and its NPF, WAVE/SCAR, are essential for C. elegans embryonic morphogenesis. We show that WAVE/SCAR and Arp2/3 regulate endocytosis and early endosome morphology in diverse tissues of C. elegans. Depletion of WAVE/SCAR or Arp2/3, but not of the NPF Wasp, severely disrupts the distribution of molecules proposed to be internalized via CME, and alters the subcellular enrichment of the early endosome regulator RAB-5. Loss of WAVE/SCAR or of the GEFs that regulate RAB-5 results in similar defects in endocytosis in the intestine and coelomocyte cells. This study in a multicellular organism supports an essential role for branched actin regulators in endocytosis, and identifies WAVE/SCAR as a key NPF that promotes Arp2/3 endocytic function in C. elegans.

Role of membrane traffic in the generation of epithelial cell asymmetry

Epithelial cells have an apical-basolateral axis of polarity, which is required for epithelial functions including barrier formation, vectorial ion transport and sensory perception. Here we review what is known about the sorting signals, machineries and pathways that maintain this asymmetry, and how polarity proteins interface with membrane-trafficking pathways to generate membrane domains de novo. It is becoming apparent that membrane traffic does not simply reinforce polarity, but is critical for the generation of cortical epithelial cell asymmetry.

Caenorhabditis elegans reveals a FxNPxY-independent low-density lipoprotein receptor internalization mechanism mediated by epsin1

A genome-wide RNA interference screen using Caenorhabditis elegans LRP-1/megalin as a model for LDLR transport was employed to identify factors critical to LDLR uptake. We provide evidence that epsin1 promotes LDLR internalization via a FxNPxY-independent pathway. We complement C. elegans in vivo approaches with loss-of-function and biochemical analyses, using mammalian cell culture systems to evaluate epsin1’s mode of action in LDLR endocytosis.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) internalization clears cholesterol-laden LDL particles from circulation in humans. Defects in clathrin-dependent LDLR endocytosis promote elevated serum cholesterol levels and can lead to atherosclerosis. However, our understanding of the mechanisms that control LDLR uptake remains incomplete. To identify factors critical to LDLR uptake, we pursued a genome-wide RNA interference screen using Caenorhabditis elegans LRP-1/megalin as a model for LDLR transport. In doing so, we discovered an unanticipated requirement for the clathrin-binding endocytic adaptor epsin1 in LDLR endocytosis. Epsin1 depletion reduced LDLR internalization rates in mammalian cells, similar to the reduction observed following clathrin depletion. Genetic and biochemical analyses of epsin in C. elegans and mammalian cells uncovered a requirement for the ubiquitin-interaction motif (UIM) as critical for receptor transport. As the epsin UIM promotes the internalization of some ubiquitinated receptors, we predicted LDLR ubiquitination as necessary for endocytosis. However, engineered ubiquitination-impaired LDLR mutants showed modest internalization defects that were further enhanced with epsin1 depletion, demonstrating epsin1-mediated LDLR endocytosis is independent of receptor ubiquitination. Finally, we provide evidence that epsin1-mediated LDLR uptake occurs independently of either of the two documented internalization motifs (FxNPxY or HIC) encoded within the LDLR cytoplasmic tail, indicating an additional internalization mechanism for LDLR.

The young and happy marriage of membrane traffic and cell polarity

The ESF-EMBO meeting on 'Cell Polarity and Membrane Traffic' took place in Poland in April 2012. It brought together scientists from two once separate fields and highlighted their emerging interdependence. The wealth of scientific insights and discoveries presented laid a path for future research.

Clathrin and AP-1 regulate apical polarity and lumen formation during C. elegans tubulogenesis

Clathrin coats vesicles in all eukaryotic cells and has a well-defined role in endocytosis, moving molecules away from the plasma membrane. Its function on routes towards the plasma membrane was only recently appreciated and is thought to be limited to basolateral transport. Here, an unbiased RNAi-based tubulogenesis screen identifies a role of clathrin (CHC-1) and its AP-1 adaptor in apical polarity during de novo lumenal membrane biogenesis in the C. elegans intestine. We show that CHC-1/AP-1-mediated polarized transport intersects with a sphingolipid-dependent apical sorting process. Depleting each presumed trafficking component mislocalizes the same set of apical membrane molecules basolaterally, including the polarity regulator PAR-6, and generates ectopic lateral lumens. GFP::CHC-1 and BODIPY-ceramide vesicles associate perinuclearly and assemble asymmetrically at polarized plasma membrane domains in a co-dependent and AP-1-dependent manner. Based on these findings, we propose a trafficking pathway for apical membrane polarity and lumen morphogenesis that implies: (1) a clathrin/AP-1 function on an apically directed transport route; and (2) the convergence of this route with a sphingolipid-dependent apical trafficking path.