Heterogeneous distribution of the unusual phospholipid semilysobisphosphatidic acid through the Golgi complex

To investigate the distribution of lipids through the Golgi complex, we analyzed the envelopes of several viruses that assemble in different subcompartments of the Golgi, as well as subcellular fractions. Our results indicate that each Golgi subcompartment has a distinct phospholipid composition due mainly to differences in the relative amounts of semilysobisphosphatidic acid (SLBPA), sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. Interestingly, SLBPA is enriched in the adjacent Golgi networks compared with the Golgi stack, and this enrichment varies with cell type. The heterogeneous distribution of SLBPA through the Golgi complex suggests it may play an important role in the structure and/or function of this organelle.

The envelope of vaccinia virus reveals an unusual phospholipid in Golgi complex membranes

We isolated forms of enveloped vaccinia virus from infected HeLa cells to obtain membranes for the analysis of lipids of the cis-Golgi network and trans-Golgi network. The intracellular mature virus obtains its envelope by wrapping itself in the membranes of the cis-Golgi network. A fraction of these virions then acquires a second envelope by enwrapping trans-Golgi network membranes to form the intracellular enveloped virus. Lipids were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography and digital densitometry to establish a steady-state lipid profile of viral membranes, which should reflect the compositions of the cis-Golgi network and trans-Golgi network. Phosphatidyl-inositol was slightly enriched in the cis-Golgi network of HeLa cells, whereas the trans-Golgi network showed a minor increase in phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin. Similarly, cholesterol was only slightly more abundant in the trans-Golgi compared to the cis-Golgi. An unusual lipid, semilysobisphosphatidic acid, was present in significant amounts in vaccinia envelopes. Semilysobisphosphatidic acid was present in similar levels in infected and uninfected cells, and was therefore not induced by vaccinia infection. Subcellular fractionation of HeLa cells indicated that the recovery of semilysobisphosphatidic acid paralleled the recovery of a Golgi marker. Furthermore, a lipid species that comigrated with semilysobisphosphatidic acid was also present in lipids extracted from highly purified, intact Golgi complexes from rat liver. Together, these results suggest that semilysobisphosphatidic acid is a normal component of Golgi membranes.

Tubulation of Golgi membranes in vivo and in vitro in the absence of brefeldin A

Recent in vivo studies with the fungal metabolite, brefeldin A (BFA), have shown that in the absence of vesicle formation, membranes of the Golgi complex and the trans-Golgi network (TGN) are nevertheless able to extend long tubules which fuse with selected target organelles. We report here that the ability to form tubules (> 7 microns long) could be reproduced in vitro by treatment of isolated, intact Golgi membranes with BFA under certain conditions. Surprisingly, an even more impressive degree of tubulation could be achieved by incubating Golgi stacks with an ATP-reduced cytosolic fraction, without any BFA at all. Similarly, tubulation of Golgi membranes in vivo occurred after treatment of cells with intermediate levels of NaN3 and 2-deoxyglucose. The formation of tubules in vitro, either by BFA treatment or low-ATP cytosol, correlated precisely with a loss of the vesicle-associated coat protein beta-COP from Golgi membranes. After removal of BFA or addition of ATP, membrane tubules served as substrates for the rebinding of beta-COP and for the formation of vesicles in vitro. These results provide support for the idea that a reciprocal relationship exists between tubulation and vesiculation (Klausner, R. D., J. G. Donaldson, and J. Lippincott-Schwartz. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 116:1071-1080). Moreover, they show that tubulation is an inherent property of Golgi membranes, since it occurs without the aid of microtubules or BFA treatment. Finally the results indicate the presence of cytosolic factors, independent of vesicle-associated coat proteins, that mediate the budding/tubulation of Golgi membranes.

Adhesion of Golgi cisternae by proteinaceous interactions: intercisternal bridges as putative adhesive structures

We have investigated the nature of the component(s) responsible for holding the cisternal membranes of the Golgi complex into a stacked unit. Isolated Golgi complexes were treated with a variety of agents to induce the separation of intact Golgi stacks into single cisternal elements, i.e. “unstacking”, and the effects were analyzed and quantitated by electron microscopy. In control experiments, isolated, intact Golgi stacks were stable at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C for > or = 1 h; however, some unstacking occurred at 32 degrees C. Treatment of intact Golgi stacks with a variety of proteolytic enzymes resulted in a time- and dose-dependent unstacking of the cisternae, although stacks were resistant to various other proteases. Following liberation from the stack, single cisternae remained flattened with dilated rims. The integrity of intact Golgi stacks was unaffected by treatment with various concentrations and combinations of monovalent and divalent cations, or chelators of divalent cations. Electron microscopic observations of tannic acid- or negatively stained Golgi complexes, revealed the presence of highly structured, intercisternal “bridges”. When seen within intact Golgi complexes, these bridges were only consistently found between closely apposed cisternae and were not observed on dilated rims or secretory vesicles. These bridges, on both intact stacks and physically disrupted cisternae, were rectangular, being approximately 8.5 nm in width, approximately 11 nm in height. Treatment with proteases under conditions that resulted in the with proteases under conditions that resulted in the unstacking of intact complexes also removed these bridge structures. These data show that proteinaceous components are responsible for holding Golgi cisternae together into a cohesive, stacked unit, and identify a candidate bridge structure that could serve this purpose.

Identification of a membrane glycoprotein found primarily in the prelysosomal endosome compartment

Cells contain an intracellular compartment that serves as both the "prelysosomal" delivery site for newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes by the mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P) receptor and as a station along the endocytic pathway to lysosomes. We have obtained mAbs to a approximately 57-kD membrane glycoprotein, (called here plgp57), found predominantly in this prelysosomal endosome compartment. This conclusion is supported by the following results: (a) plgp57 was primarily found in a population of late endosomes that were located just distal to the 20 degrees C block site in the endocytic pathway to lysosomes (approximately 83% of the prelysosomes were positive for plgp57 but less than 5% of the early endosomes had detectable amounts of this marker); (b) plgp57 and the cation-independent (CI) Man6P receptor were located in many of the same intracellular vesicles; (c) plgp57 was found in the membranes of an acidic compartment; (d) immunoelectron microscopy showed that plgp57 was located in characteristic multilamellar- and multivesicular-type vacuoles believed to be prelysosomal endosomes; and (e) cell fractionation studies demonstrated that plgp57 was predominantly found in low density organelles which comigrated with late endosomes and CI Man6P receptors, and only approximately 10-15% of the antigen was found in high density fractions containing the majority of secondary lysosomes. These results indicate that plgp57 is a novel marker for a unique prelysosomal endosome compartment that is the site of confluence of the endocytic and biosynthetic pathways to lysosomes.