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

IFT20: An Eclectic Regulator of Cellular Processes beyond Intraflagellar Transport

Initially discovered as the smallest component of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, the IFT20 protein has been found to be implicated in several unconventional mechanisms beyond its essential role in the assembly and maintenance of the primary cilium. IFT20 is now considered a key player not only in ciliogenesis but also in vesicular trafficking of membrane receptors and signaling proteins. Moreover, its ability to associate with a wide array of interacting partners in a cell-type specific manner has expanded the function of IFT20 to the regulation of intracellular degradative and secretory pathways. In this review, we will present an overview of the multifaceted role of IFT20 in both ciliated and non-ciliated cells.

New insights into the role of the Golgi apparatus in the pathogenesis and therapeutics of human diseases

The Golgi apparatus is an essential cellular organelle that mediates homeostatic functions, including vesicle trafficking and the post-translational modification of macromolecules. Its unique stacked structure and dynamic functions are tightly regulated, and several Golgi proteins play key roles in the functioning of unconventional protein secretory pathways triggered by cellular stress responses. Recently, an increasing number of studies have implicated defects in Golgi functioning in human diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative, and immunological disorders. Understanding the extraordinary characteristics of Golgi proteins is important for elucidating its associated intracellular signaling mechanisms and has important ramifications for human health. Therefore, analyzing the mechanisms by which the Golgi participates in disease pathogenesis may be useful for developing novel therapeutic strategies. This review articulates the structural features and abnormalities of the Golgi apparatus reported in various diseases and the suspected mechanisms underlying the Golgi-associated pathologies. Furthermore, we review the potential therapeutic strategies based on Golgi function.

Proteomics Identifies Substrates and a Novel Component in hSnd2-Dependent ER Protein Targeting

Importing proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is essential for about 30% of the human proteome. It involves the targeting of precursor proteins to the ER and their insertion into or translocation across the ER membrane. Furthermore, it relies on signals in the precursor polypeptides and components, which read the signals and facilitate their targeting to a protein-conducting channel in the ER membrane, the Sec61 complex. Compared to the SRP- and TRC-dependent pathways, little is known about the SRP-independent/SND pathway. Our aim was to identify additional components and characterize the client spectrum of the human SND pathway. The established strategy of combining the depletion of the central hSnd2 component from HeLa cells with proteomic and differential protein abundance analysis was used. The SRP and TRC targeting pathways were analyzed in comparison. TMEM109 was characterized as hSnd3. Unlike SRP but similar to TRC, the SND clients are predominantly membrane proteins with N-terminal, central, or C-terminal targeting signals.

Molecular basis of ocean acidification sensitivity and adaptation in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Predicting the potential for species adaption to climate change is challenged by the need to identify the physiological mechanisms that underpin species vulnerability. Here, we investigated the sensitivity to ocean acidification in marine mussels during early development, and specifically the trochophore stage. Using RNA and DNA sequencing and in situ RNA hybridization, we identified developmental processes associated with abnormal development and rapid adaptation to low pH. Trochophores exposed to low pH seawater exhibited 43 differentially expressed genes. Gene annotation and in situ hybridization of differentially expressed genes point to pH sensitivity of (1) shell field development and (2) cellular stress response. Five genes within these two processes exhibited shifts in allele frequencies indicative of a potential for rapid adaptation. This case study contributes direct evidence that protecting species’ existing genetic diversity is a critical management action to facilitate species resilience to climate change.

•

Marine mussel larval development and genetic adaptation in low pH seawater

•

RNA and DNA responses reveal impacts on shell field development and cell stress

•

Five genes exhibited both physiological sensitivity and long-term adaptive potential

•

Conserving standing genetic variation could bolster resilience to global change

Getting Sugar Coating Right! The Role of the Golgi Trafficking Machinery in Glycosylation

The Golgi is the central organelle of the secretory pathway and it houses the majority of the glycosylation machinery, which includes glycosylation enzymes and sugar transporters. Correct compartmentalization of the glycosylation machinery is achieved by retrograde vesicular trafficking as the secretory cargo moves forward by cisternal maturation. The vesicular trafficking machinery which includes vesicular coats, small GTPases, tethers and SNAREs, play a major role in coordinating the Golgi trafficking thereby achieving Golgi homeostasis. Glycosylation is a template-independent process, so its fidelity heavily relies on appropriate localization of the glycosylation machinery and Golgi homeostasis. Mutations in the glycosylation enzymes, sugar transporters, Golgi ion channels and several vesicle tethering factors cause congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) which encompass a group of multisystem disorders with varying severities. Here, we focus on the Golgi vesicle tethering and fusion machinery, namely, multisubunit tethering complexes and SNAREs and their role in Golgi trafficking and glycosylation. This review is a comprehensive summary of all the identified CDG causing mutations of the Golgi trafficking machinery in humans.

GRASP55 restricts early-stage autophagy and regulates spatial organization of the early secretory network

There is great interest in understanding the cellular mechanisms controlling autophagy, a tightly regulated catabolic and stress-response pathway. Prior work has uncovered links between autophagy and the Golgi reassembly stacking protein of 55 kDa (GRASP55), but their precise interrelationship remains unclear. Intriguingly, both autophagy and GRASP55 have been functionally and spatially linked to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)­­-Golgi interface, broaching this compartment as a site where GRASP55 and autophagy may intersect. Here, we uncover that loss of GRASP55 enhances LC3 puncta formation, indicating that GRASP55 restricts autophagosome formation. Additionally, using proximity-dependent biotinylation, we identify a GRASP55 proximal interactome highly associated with the ER-Golgi interface. Both nutrient starvation and loss of GRASP55 are associated with coalescence of early secretory pathway markers. In light of these findings, we propose that GRASP55 regulates spatial organization of the ER-Golgi interface, which suppresses early autophagosome formation.

Summary: The Golgi protein GRASP55 restricts early-stage autophagy and regulates spatial organization of the early secretory network. We also identify a GRASP55 proximal interactome enriched at the ER-Golgi interface.

The molecular complex of ciliary and golgin protein is crucial for skull development

Intramembranous ossification, which consists of direct conversion of mesenchymal cells to osteoblasts, is a characteristic process in skull development. One crucial role of these osteoblasts is to secrete collagen-containing bone matrix. However, it remains unclear how the dynamics of collagen trafficking is regulated during skull development. Here, we reveal the regulatory mechanisms of ciliary and golgin proteins required for intramembranous ossification. During normal skull formation, osteoblasts residing on the osteogenic front actively secreted collagen. Mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis determined endogenous binding between ciliary protein IFT20 and golgin protein GMAP210 in these osteoblasts. As seen in Ift20 mutant mice, disruption of neural crest-specific GMAP210 in mice caused osteopenia-like phenotypes due to dysfunctional collagen trafficking. Mice lacking both IFT20 and GMAP210 displayed more severe skull defects compared with either IFT20 or GMAP210 mutants. These results demonstrate that the molecular complex of IFT20 and GMAP210 is essential for the intramembranous ossification during skull development.

An alternative pathway for membrane protein biogenesis at the endoplasmic reticulum

The heterotrimeric Sec61 complex is a major site for the biogenesis of transmembrane proteins (TMPs), accepting nascent TMP precursors that are targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by the signal recognition particle (SRP). Unlike most single-spanning membrane proteins, the integration of type III TMPs is completely resistant to small molecule inhibitors of the Sec61 translocon. Using siRNA-mediated depletion of specific ER components, in combination with the potent Sec61 inhibitor ipomoeassin F (Ipom-F), we show that type III TMPs utilise a distinct pathway for membrane integration at the ER. Hence, following SRP-mediated delivery to the ER, type III TMPs can uniquely access the membrane insertase activity of the ER membrane complex (EMC) via a mechanism that is facilitated by the Sec61 translocon. This alternative EMC-mediated insertion pathway allows type III TMPs to bypass the Ipom-F-mediated blockade of membrane integration that is seen with obligate Sec61 clients.

Biallelic deep intronic variant c.5457+81T>A in TRIP11 causes loss of function and results in achondrogenesis 1A

Biallelic loss of function variants in TRIP11 encoding for the Golgi microtubule-associated protein 210 (GMAP-210) causes the lethal chondrodysplasia achondrogenesis type 1A (ACG1A). Loss of TRIP11 activity has been shown to impair Golgi structure, vesicular transport, and results in loss of IFT20 anchorage to the Golgi that is vital for ciliary trafficking and ciliogenesis. Here, we report four fetuses, two each from two families, who were ascertained antenatally with ACG1A. Affected fetuses in both families are homozygous for the deep intronic TRIP11 variant, c.5457+81T>A, which was found in a shared region of homozygosity. This variant was found to cause aberrant transcript splicing and the retention of 77 base pairs of intron 18. The TRIP11 messenger RNA and protein levels were drastically reduced in fibroblast cells derived from one of the affected fetuses. Using immunofluorescence we also detected highly compacted Golgi apparatus in affected fibroblasts. Further, we observed a significant reduction in the frequency of ciliated cells and in the length of primary cilia in subject-derived cell lines, not reported so far in patient cells with TRIP11 null or hypomorphic variants. Our findings illustrate how pathogenic variants in intronic regions of TRIP11 can impact transcript splicing, expression, and activity, resulting in ACG1A.

Alterations of Golgi Structural Proteins and Glycosylation Defects in Cancer

As the central hub in the secretory and endocytic pathways, the Golgi apparatus continually receives the flow of cargos and serves as a major processing station in the cell. Due to its dynamic nature, a sophisticated and constantly remodeling mechanism needs to be set up to maintain the Golgi architecture and function in the non-stop trafficking of proteins and lipids. Abundant evidence has been accumulated that a well-organized Golgi structure is required for its proper functions, especially protein glycosylation. Remarkably, altered glycosylation has been a hallmark of most cancer cells. To understand the causes of Golgi defects in cancer, efforts have been made to characterize Golgi structural proteins under physiological and pathological conditions. This review summarizes the current knowledge of crucial Golgi structural proteins and their connections with tumor progression. We foresee that understanding the Golgi structural and functional defects may help solve the puzzle of whether glycosylation defect is a cause or effect of oncogenesis.

The Golgin Protein RUD3 Regulates Fusarium graminearum Growth and Virulence

Golgins are coiled-coil proteins that play prominent roles in maintaining the structure and function of the Golgi complex. However, the role of golgin proteins in phytopathogenic fungi remains poorly understood. In this study, we functionally characterized the Fusarium graminearum golgin protein RUD3, a homolog of _ScRUD3/GMAP-210 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian cells. Cellular localization observation revealed that RUD3 is located in the cis-Golgi. Deletion of RUD3 caused defects in vegetative growth, ascospore discharge, deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and virulence. Moreover, the Δrud3 mutant showed reduced expression of tri genes and impairment of the formation of toxisomes, both of which play essential roles in DON biosynthesis. We further used green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged SNARE protein SEC22 (SEC22-GFP) as a tool to study the transport between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi and observed that SEC22-GFP was retained in the cis-Golgi in the Δrud3 mutant. RUD3 contains the coiled coil (CC), GRAB-associated 2 (GA2), GRIP-related Arf binding (GRAB), and GRAB-associated 1 (GA1) domains, which except for GA1, are indispensable for normal localization and function of RUD3, whereas only CC is essential for normal RUD3-RUD3 interaction. Together, these results demonstrate how the golgin protein RUD3 mediates retrograde trafficking in the ER-to-Golgi pathway and is necessary for growth, ascospore discharge, DON biosynthesis, and pathogenicity in F. graminearum IMPORTANCE Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum is an economically important disease of wheat and other small grain cereal crops worldwide, and limited effective control strategies are available. A better understanding of the regulation mechanisms of F. graminearum development, deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis, and pathogenicity is therefore important for the development of effective control management of this disease. Golgins are attached via their extreme carboxy terminus to the Golgi membrane and are involved in vesicle trafficking and organelle maintenance in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we systematically characterized a highly conserved Golgin protein, RUD3, and found that it is required for vegetative growth, ascospore discharge, DON production, and pathogenicity in F. graminearum Our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of the golgin family protein RUD3 in plant-pathogenic fungus, which could help to identify a new potential target for effective control of this devastating disease.

Retrograde and Anterograde Transport of Lat-Vesicles during the Immunological Synapse Formation: Defining the Finely-Tuned Mechanism

LAT is an important player of the signaling cascade induced by TCR activation. This adapter molecule is present at the plasma membrane of T lymphocytes and more abundantly in intracellular compartments. Upon T cell activation the intracellular pool of LAT is recruited to the immune synapse (IS). We previously described two pathways controlling LAT trafficking: retrograde transport from endosomes to the TGN, and anterograde traffic from the Golgi to the IS. We address the specific role of four proteins, the GTPase Rab6, the t-SNARE syntaxin-16, the v-SNARE VAMP7 and the golgin GMAP210, in each pathway. Using different methods (endocytosis and Golgi trap assays, confocal and TIRF microscopy, TCR-signalosome pull down) we show that syntaxin-16 is regulating the retrograde transport of LAT whereas VAMP7 is regulating the anterograde transport. Moreover, GMAP210 and Rab6, known to contribute to both pathways, are in our cellular context, specifically and respectively, involved in anterograde and retrograde transport of LAT. Altogether, our data describe how retrograde and anterograde pathways coordinate LAT enrichment at the IS and point to the Golgi as a central hub for the polarized recruitment of LAT to the IS. The role that this finely-tuned transport of signaling molecules plays in T-cell activation is discussed.

The role of the Golgi apparatus in disease (Review)

The Golgi apparatus is known to underpin many important cellular homeostatic functions, including trafficking, sorting and modifications of proteins or lipids. These functions are dysregulated in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases, and the number of disease-related genes associated with Golgi apparatus is on the increase. Recently, many studies have suggested that the mutations in the genes encoding Golgi resident proteins can trigger the occurrence of diseases. By summarizing the pathogenesis of these genetic diseases, it was found that most of these diseases have defects in membrane trafficking. Such defects typically result in mislocalization of proteins, impaired glycosylation of proteins, and the accumulation of undegraded proteins. In the present review, we aim to understand the patterns of mutations in the genes encoding Golgi resident proteins and decipher the interplay between Golgi resident proteins and membrane trafficking pathway in cells. Furthermore, the detection of Golgi resident protein in human serum samples has the potential to be used as a diagnostic tool for diseases, and its central role in membrane trafficking pathways provides possible targets for disease therapy. Thus, we also introduced the clinical value of Golgi apparatus in the present review.

The Close Relationship between the Golgi Trafficking Machinery and Protein Glycosylation

Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins; it mediates their correct folding and stability, as well as their transport through the secretory transport. Changes in N- and O-linked glycans have been associated with multiple pathological conditions including congenital disorders of glycosylation, inflammatory diseases and cancer. Glycoprotein glycosylation at the Golgi involves the coordinated action of hundreds of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases, which are maintained at the correct location through retrograde vesicle trafficking between Golgi cisternae. In this review, we describe the molecular machinery involved in vesicle trafficking and tethering at the Golgi apparatus and the effects of mutations in the context of glycan biosynthesis and human diseases.

Sugary Logistics Gone Wrong: Membrane Trafficking and Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation

Glycosylation is an important post-translational modification for both intracellular and secreted proteins. For glycosylation to occur, cargo must be transported after synthesis through the different compartments of the Golgi apparatus where distinct monosaccharides are sequentially bound and trimmed, resulting in increasingly complex branched glycan structures. Of utmost importance for this process is the intraorganellar environment of the Golgi. Each Golgi compartment has a distinct pH, which is maintained by the vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase). Moreover, tethering factors such as Golgins and the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, in concert with coatomer (COPI) and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-mediated membrane fusion, efficiently deliver glycosylation enzymes to the right Golgi compartment. Together, these factors maintain intra-Golgi trafficking of proteins involved in glycosylation and thereby enable proper glycosylation. However, pathogenic mutations in these factors can cause defective glycosylation and lead to diseases with a wide variety of symptoms such as liver dysfunction and skin and bone disorders. Collectively, this group of disorders is known as congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). Recent technological advances have enabled the robust identification of novel CDGs related to membrane trafficking components. In this review, we highlight differences and similarities between membrane trafficking-related CDGs.

Primary myeloid cell proteomics and transcriptomics: importance of β-tubulin isotypes for osteoclast function

Among hematopoietic cells, osteoclasts (OCs) and immature dendritic cells (DCs) are closely related myeloid cells with distinct functions: OCs participate skeleton maintenance while DCs sample the environment for foreign antigens. Such specificities rely on profound modifications of gene and protein expression during OC and DC differentiation. We provide global proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of primary mouse OCs and DCs, based on original stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and RNAseq data. We established specific signatures for OCs and DCs, including genes and proteins of unknown functions. In particular, we showed that OCs and DCs have the same α- and β-tubulin isotype repertoire but that OCs express much more of the β tubulin isotype Tubb6 (also known as TBB6). In both mouse and human OCs, we demonstrate that elevated expression of Tubb6 in OCs is necessary for correct podosomes organization and thus for the structure of the sealing zone, which sustains the bone resorption apparatus. Hence, lowering Tubb6 expression hinders OC resorption activity. Overall, we highlight here potential new regulators of OC and DC biology, and illustrate the functional importance of the tubulin isotype repertoire in the biology of differentiated cells.

Dissecting the Vesicular Trafficking Function of IFT Subunits

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) was initially identified as a transport machine with multiple protein subunits, and it is essential for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of cilium/flagellum, which serves as the nexus of extracellular-to-intracellular signal integration. To date, in addition to its well-established and indispensable roles in ciliated cells, most IFT subunits have presented more general functions of vesicular trafficking in the non-ciliated cells. Thus, this review aims to summarize the recent progress on the vesicular trafficking functions of the IFT subunits and to highlight the issues that may arise in future research.

Abnormal fertility, acrosome formation, IFT20 expression and localization in conditional Gmap210 knockout mice

GMAP210 (TRIP11) is a cis-Golgi network-associated protein and a Golgi membrane receptor for IFT20, an intraflagellar transport component essential for male fertility and spermiogenesis in mice. To investigate the role of GMAP210 in male fertility and spermatogenesis, floxed Gmap210 mice were bred with Stra8-iCre mice so that the Gmap210 gene is disrupted in spermatocytes and spermatids in this study. The Gmap210flox/flox: Stra8-iCre mutant mice showed no gross abnormalities and survived to adulthood. In adult males, testis and body weights showed no difference between controls and mutant mice. Low-magnification histological examination of the testes revealed normal seminiferous tubule structure, but sperm counts and fertility were significantly reduced in mutant mice compared with controls. Higher resolution examination of the mutant seminiferous epithelium showed that nearly all sperm had more oblong, abnormally shaped heads, while the sperm tails appeared to have normal morphology. Electron microscopy also revealed abnormally shaped sperm heads but normal axoneme core structure; some sperm showed membrane defects in the midpiece. In mutant mice, expression levels of IFT20 and other selective acrosomal proteins were significantly reduced, and their localization was also affected. Peanut-lectin, an acrosome maker, was almost absent in the spermatids and epididymal sperm. Mitochondrion staining was highly concentrated in the heads of sperm, suggesting that the midpieces were coiling around or aggregating near the heads. Defects in acrosome biogenesis were further confirmed by electron microscopy. Collectively, our findings suggest that GMAP210 is essential for acrosome biogenesis, normal mitochondrial sheath formation, and male fertility, and it determines expression levels and acrosomal localization of IFT20 and other acrosomal proteins.

A New Look at the Functional Organization of the Golgi Ribbon

A characteristic feature of vertebrate cells is a Golgi ribbon consisting of multiple cisternal stacks connected into a single-copy organelle next to the centrosome. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms that link the stacks together and the functional significance of ribbon formation remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, these questions are of considerable interest, since there is increasing evidence that Golgi fragmentation – the unlinking of the stacks in the ribbon – is intimately connected not only to normal physiological processes, such as cell division and migration, but also to pathological states, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Challenging a commonly held view that ribbon architecture involves the formation of homotypic tubular bridges between the Golgi stacks, we present an alternative model, based on direct interaction between the biosynthetic (pre-Golgi) and endocytic (post-Golgi) membrane networks and their connection with the centrosome. We propose that the central domains of these permanent pre- and post-Golgi networks function together in the biogenesis and maintenance of the more transient Golgi stacks, and thereby establish “linker compartments” that dynamically join the stacks together. This model provides insight into the reversible fragmentation of the Golgi ribbon that takes place in dividing and migrating cells and its regulation along a cell surface – Golgi – centrosome axis. Moreover, it helps to understand transport pathways that either traverse or bypass the Golgi stacks and the positioning of the Golgi apparatus in differentiated neuronal, epithelial, and muscle cells.

Tethering of vesicles to the Golgi by GMAP210 controls LAT delivery to the immune synapse

The T cell immune synapse is a site of intense vesicular trafficking. Here we show that the golgin GMAP210, known to capture vesicles and organize membrane traffic at the Golgi, is involved in the vesicular transport of LAT to the immune synapse. Upon activation, more GMAP210 interact with LAT-containing vesicles and go together with LAT to the immune synapse. Regulating LAT recruitment and LAT-dependent signaling, GMAP210 controls T cell activation. Using a rerouting and capture assay, we show that GMAP210 captures VAMP7-decorated vesicles. Overexpressing different domains of GMAP210, we also show that GMAP210 allows their specific delivery to the immune synapse by tethering LAT-vesicles to the Golgi. Finally, in a model of ectopic expression of LAT in ciliated cells, we show that GMAP210 tethering activity controls the delivery of LAT to the cilium. Hence, our results reveal a function for the golgin GMAP210 conveying specific vesicles to the immune synapse.

The Physiological Functions of the Golgin Vesicle Tethering Proteins

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

Hypomorphic mutations of TRIP11 cause odontochondrodysplasia

Odontochondrodysplasia (ODCD) is an unresolved genetic disorder of skeletal and dental development. Here, we show that ODCD is caused by hypomorphic TRIP11 mutations, and we identify ODCD as the nonlethal counterpart to achondrogenesis 1A (ACG1A), the known null phenotype in humans. TRIP11 encodes Golgi-associated microtubule-binding protein 210 (GMAP-210), an essential tether protein of the Golgi apparatus that physically interacts with intraflagellar transport 20 (IFT20), a component of the ciliary intraflagellar transport complex B. This association and extraskeletal disease manifestations in ODCD point to a cilium-dependent pathogenesis. However, our functional studies in patient-derived primary cells clearly support a Golgi-based disease mechanism. In spite of reduced abundance, residual GMAP variants maintain partial Golgi integrity, normal global protein secretion, and subcellular distribution of IFT20 in ODCD. These functions are lost when GMAP-210 is completely abrogated in ACG1A. However, a similar defect in chondrocyte maturation is observed in both disorders, which produces a cellular achondrogenesis phenotype of different severity, ensuing from aberrant glycan processing and impaired extracellular matrix proteoglycan secretion by the Golgi apparatus.

Golgin-160 and GMAP210 play an important role in U251 cells migration and invasion initiated by GDNF

Gliomas are the most common malignant tumors of the brain and are characteristic of severe migration and invasion. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes glioma development process. However, the regulatory mechanisms of promoting occurrence and development of glioma have not yet been clearly elucidated. In the present study, the mechanism by which GDNF promotes glioma cell migration and invasion through regulating the dispersion and location of the Golgi apparatus (GA) is described. Following GDNF treatment, a change in the volume and position of GA was observed. The stack area of the GA was enlarged and it was more concentrated near the nucleus. Golgin-160 and Golgi microtubule-associated protein 210 (GMAP210) were identified as target molecules regulating GA positioning. In the absence of either golgin-160 or GMAP210 using lentivirus, the migration and invasion of U251 cells were decreased, while it was increased following GDNF. It was also found that the GA was decreased in size and dispersed following golgin-160 or GMAP210 knockdown, as determined by GA green fluorescence assay. Once GDNF was added, the above phenomenon would be twisted, and the concentrated location and volume of the GA was restored. In combination, the present data suggested that the regulation of the position and size of the GA by golgin-160 and GMAP210 play an important role in U251 cell migration and invasion.

A common pathomechanism in GMAP-210- and LBR-related diseases

Biallelic loss-of-function mutations in TRIP11, encoding the golgin GMAP-210, cause the lethal human chondrodysplasia achondrogenesis 1A (ACG1A). We now find that a homozygous splice-site mutation of the lamin B receptor (LBR) gene results in the same phenotype. Intrigued by the genetic heterogeneity, we compared GMAP-210- and LBR-deficient primary cells to unravel how particular mutations in LBR cause a phenocopy of ACG1A. We could exclude a regulatory interaction between LBR and GMAP-210 in patients' cells. However, we discovered a common disruption of Golgi apparatus architecture that was accompanied by decreased secretory trafficking in both cases. Deficiency of Golgi-dependent glycan processing indicated a similar downstream effect of the disease-causing mutations upon Golgi function. Unexpectedly, our results thus point to a common pathogenic mechanism in GMAP-210- and LBR-related diseases attributable to defective secretory trafficking at the Golgi apparatus.

Characterization of potential TRPP2 regulating proteins in early Xenopus embryos

Transient receptor potential cation channel-2 (TRPP2) is a nonspecific Ca²⁺ -dependent cation channel with versatile functions including control of extracellular calcium entry at the plasma membrane, release of intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺ ]i) from internal stores of endoplasmic reticulum, and calcium-dependent mechanosensation in the primary cilium. In early Xenopus embryos, TRPP2 is expressed in cilia of the gastrocoel roof plate (GRP) involved in the establishment of left-right asymmetry, and in nonciliated kidney field (KF) cells, where it plays a central role in early specification of nephron tubule cells dependent on [Ca²⁺ ]i signaling. Identification of proteins binding to TRPP2 in embryo cells can provide interesting clues about the mechanisms involved in its regulation during these various processes. Using mass spectrometry, we have therefore characterized proteins from late gastrula/early neurula stage embryos coimmunoprecipitating with TRPP2. Binding of three of these proteins, golgin A2, protein kinase-D1, and disheveled-2 has been confirmed by immunoblotting analysis of TRPP2-coprecipitated proteins. Expression analysis of the genes, respectively, encoding these proteins, golga2, prkd1, and dvl2 indicates that they are likely to play a role in these two regions. Golga2 and prkd1 are expressed at later stage in the developing pronephric tubule where golgin A2 and protein kinase-D1 might also interact with TRPP2. Colocalization experiments using exogenously expressed fluorescent versions of TRPP2 and dvl2 in GRP and KF reveal that these two proteins are generally not coexpressed, and only colocalized in discrete region of cells. This was observed in KF cells, but does not appear to occur in the apical ciliated region of GRP cells.

Intermediate compartment (IC): from pre-Golgi vacuoles to a semi-autonomous membrane system

Despite its discovery more than three decades ago and well-established role in protein sorting and trafficking in the early secretory pathway, the intermediate compartment (IC) has remained enigmatic. The prevailing view is that the IC evolved as a specialized organelle to mediate long-distance endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi communication in metazoan cells, but is lacking in other eukaryotes, such as plants and fungi. However, this distinction is difficult to reconcile with the high conservation of the core machineries that regulate early secretory trafficking from yeast to man. Also, it has remained unclear whether the pleiomorphic IC components—vacuoles, tubules and vesicles—represent transient transport carriers or building blocks of a permanent pre-Golgi organelle. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that the IC maintains its compositional, structural and spatial properties throughout the cell cycle, supporting a model that combines the dynamic and stable aspects of the organelle. Moreover, the IC has been assigned novel functions, such as cell signaling, Golgi-independent trafficking and autophagy. The emerging permanent nature of the IC and its connections with the centrosome and the endocytic recycling system encourage reconsideration of its relationship with the Golgi ribbon, role in Golgi biogenesis and ubiquitous presence in eukaryotic cells.

Impaired proteoglycan glycosylation, elevated TGF-β signaling, and abnormal osteoblast differentiation as the basis for bone fragility in a mouse model for gerodermia osteodysplastica

Gerodermia osteodysplastica (GO) is characterized by skin laxity and early-onset osteoporosis. GORAB, the responsible disease gene, encodes a small Golgi protein of poorly characterized function. To circumvent neonatal lethality of the Gorab^Null full knockout, Gorab was conditionally inactivated in mesenchymal progenitor cells (Prx1-cre), pre-osteoblasts (Runx2-cre), and late osteoblasts/osteocytes (Dmp1-cre), respectively. While in all three lines a reduction in trabecular bone density was evident, only Gorab^Prx1 and Gorab^Runx2 mutants showed dramatically thinned, porous cortical bone and spontaneous fractures. Collagen fibrils in the skin of Gorab^Null mutants and in bone of Gorab^Prx1 mutants were disorganized, which was also seen in a bone biopsy from a GO patient. Measurement of glycosaminoglycan contents revealed a reduction of dermatan sulfate levels in skin and cartilage from Gorab^Null mutants. In bone from Gorab^Prx1 mutants total glycosaminoglycan levels and the relative percentage of dermatan sulfate were both strongly diminished. Accordingly, the proteoglycans biglycan and decorin showed reduced glycanation. Also in cultured GORAB-deficient fibroblasts reduced decorin glycanation was evident. The Golgi compartment of these cells showed an accumulation of decorin, but reduced signals for dermatan sulfate. Moreover, we found elevated activation of TGF-β in Gorab^Prx1 bone tissue leading to enhanced downstream signalling, which was reproduced in GORAB-deficient fibroblasts. Our data suggest that the loss of Gorab primarily perturbs pre-osteoblasts. GO may be regarded as a congenital disorder of glycosylation affecting proteoglycan synthesis due to delayed transport and impaired posttranslational modification in the Golgi compartment.

Gerodermia osteodysplastica (GO) is segmental progeroid disorder affecting connective tissues and bone, leading to extreme bone fragility. The cause are loss-of-function mutations in the Golgi protein GORAB, whose function has been only partially unravelled. Using several mouse models and patient-derived primary cells we elucidate that loss of Gorab elicits a defect in proteoglycan glycanation, which is associated with collagen disorganization in dermis and bone. We also found evidence for TGF-β upregulation and enhanced downstream signalling. If these changes occur in mesenchymal stem cells or early osteoblasts they impair osteoblast differentiation resulting in cortical thinning and spontaneous fractures. We thus match GO mechanistically with also phenotypically overlapping progeroid connective tissue disorders with glycanation defects.

A sophisticated, differentiated Golgi in the ancestor of eukaryotes

BACKGROUND

The Golgi apparatus is a central meeting point for the endocytic and exocytic systems in eukaryotic cells, and the organelle's dysfunction results in human disease. Its characteristic morphology of multiple differentiated compartments organized into stacked flattened cisternae is one of the most recognizable features of modern eukaryotic cells, and yet how this is maintained is not well understood. The Golgi is also an ancient aspect of eukaryotes, but the extent and nature of its complexity in the ancestor of eukaryotes is unclear. Various proteins have roles in organizing the Golgi, chief among them being the golgins.

RESULTS

We address Golgi evolution by analyzing genome sequences from organisms which have lost stacked cisternae as a feature of their Golgi and those that have not. Using genomics and immunomicroscopy, we first identify Golgi in the anaerobic amoeba Mastigamoeba balamuthi. We then searched 87 genomes spanning eukaryotic diversity for presence of the most prominent proteins implicated in Golgi structure, focusing on golgins. We show some candidates as animal specific and others as ancestral to eukaryotes.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the proteins examined show a phyletic distribution that correlates with the morphology of stacked cisternae, suggesting the possibility of stacking as an emergent property. Strikingly, however, the combination of golgins conserved among diverse eukaryotes allows for the most detailed reconstruction of the organelle to date, showing a sophisticated Golgi with differentiated compartments and trafficking pathways in the common eukaryotic ancestor.

The skeletal phenotype of achondrogenesis type 1A is caused exclusively by cartilage defects

Inactivating mutations in the ubiquitously expressed membrane trafficking component GMAP-210 (encoded by Trip11) cause achondrogenesis type 1A (ACG1A). ACG1A is surprisingly tissue specific, mainly affecting cartilage development. Bone development is also abnormal, but as chondrogenesis and osteogenesis are closely coupled, this could be a secondary consequence of the cartilage defect. A possible explanation for the tissue specificity of ACG1A is that cartilage and bone are highly secretory tissues with a high use of the membrane trafficking machinery. The perinatal lethality of ACG1A prevents investigating this hypothesis. We therefore generated mice with conditional Trip11 knockout alleles and inactivated Trip11 in chondrocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and pancreas acinar cells, all highly secretory cell types. We discovered that the ACG1A skeletal phenotype is solely due to absence of GMAP-210 in chondrocytes. Mice lacking GMAP-210 in osteoblasts, osteoclasts and acinar cells were normal. When we inactivated Trip11 in primary chondrocyte cultures, GMAP-210 deficiency affected trafficking of a subset of chondrocyte-expressed proteins rather than globally impairing membrane trafficking. Thus, GMAP-210 is essential for trafficking specific cargoes in chondrocytes but is dispensable in other highly secretory cells.

Summary: Conditional inactivation of the cis-Golgin GMAP-210 reveals that the skeletal phenotype in achondrogenesis type-1A, which is caused by mutations in GMAP-210, is solely due to impaired protein trafficking by chondrocytes.

The Golgin protein Coy1 functions in intra-Golgi retrograde transport and interacts with the COG complex and Golgi SNAREs

Extended coiled-coil proteins of the Golgin family play prominent roles in maintaining the structure and function of the Golgi complex. Here we further investigate the Golgin protein Coy1 and document its function in retrograde transport between early Golgi compartments. Cells that lack Coy1 displayed a reduced half-life of the Och1 mannosyltransferase, an established cargo of intra-Golgi retrograde transport. Combining the coy1Δ mutation with deletions in other putative retrograde Golgins (sgm1Δ and rud3Δ) caused strong glycosylation and growth defects and reduced membrane association of the Conserved Oligomeric Golgi complex. In contrast, overexpression of COY1 inhibited the growth of mutant strains deficient in fusion activity at the Golgi (sed5-1 and sly1-ts). To map Coy1 protein interactions, co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed an association with the Conserved Oliogmeric Golgi (COG) complex and with intra-Golgi SNARE proteins. These physical interactions are direct, as Coy1 was efficiently captured in vitro by Lobe A of the COG complex and the purified SNARE proteins Gos1, Sed5 and Sft1. Thus, our genetic, in vivo, and biochemical data indicate a role for Coy1 in regulating COG complex-dependent fusion of retrograde-directed COPI vesicles.

Identification of genes associated with histologic tumor grade of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The present study aimed to identify the genes associated with the histologic tumor grade of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to provide valuable information for the identification of potential diagnostic biomarkers in ESCC. Tumor samples of ESCC patients retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas were divided into Grade 1 (well-differentiated; G1), Grade 2 (moderately-differentiated; G2) and Grade 3 (poorly-differentiated; G3) groups in accordance with the clinical record of the tumor grade of ESCC patients. The genes associated with tumor grade were identified. The signaling pathways of identified genes were enriched from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The diagnostic value of candidate genes was assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis. We used the GSE23400 dataset generated from the Gene Expression Omnibus to examine the expression levels of candidate genes in ESCC tissues compared to matched mucosa tissues. In total, 440 genes positively correlated with tumor grade and 882 genes negatively correlated with tumor grade were identified. There were 310 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between G1 and G2, 184 DEGs between G2 and G3, and 710 DEGs between G1 and G3. There were 1322 genes associated with tumor grade that were significantly enriched in pathways in cancer and the phospholipase D signaling pathway. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, golgin A7 family member B and transforming growth factor B1-induced anti-apoptotic factor 1 (TIAF1) had potential diagnostic value for discriminating ESCC patients with G1 from those with G3. TIAF1 was significantly down-regulated in ESCC. The results of the present study comprise useful groundwork with respect to determining the tumorigenesis mechanism in ESCC and discovering potential diagnostic biomarkers for ESCC.

Loss of the golgin GM130 causes Golgi disruption, Purkinje neuron loss, and ataxia in mice

The Golgi apparatus lies at the heart of the secretory pathway where it is required for secretory trafficking and cargo modification. Disruption of Golgi architecture and function has been widely observed in neurodegenerative disease, but whether Golgi dysfunction is causal with regard to the neurodegenerative process, or is simply a manifestation of neuronal death, remains unclear. Here we report that targeted loss of the golgin GM130 leads to a profound neurological phenotype in mice. Global KO of mouse GM130 results in developmental delay, severe ataxia, and postnatal death. We further show that selective deletion of GM130 in neurons causes fragmentation and defective positioning of the Golgi apparatus, impaired secretory trafficking, and dendritic atrophy in Purkinje cells. These cellular defects manifest as reduced cerebellar size and Purkinje cell number, leading to ataxia. Purkinje cell loss and ataxia first appear during postnatal development but progressively worsen with age. Our data therefore indicate that targeted disruption of the mammalian Golgi apparatus and secretory traffic results in neuronal degeneration in vivo, supporting the view that Golgi dysfunction can play a causative role in neurodegeneration.

A mutation in VPS15 (PIK3R4) causes a ciliopathy and affects IFT20 release from the cis-Golgi

Ciliopathies are a group of diseases that affect kidney and retina among other organs. Here, we identify a missense mutation in PIK3R4 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulatory subunit 4, named VPS15) in a family with a ciliopathy phenotype. Besides being required for trafficking and autophagy, we show that VPS15 regulates primary cilium length in human fibroblasts, as well as ciliary processes in zebrafish. Furthermore, we demonstrate its interaction with the golgin GM130 and its localization to the Golgi. The VPS15-R998Q patient mutation impairs Golgi trafficking functions in humanized yeast cells. Moreover, in VPS15-R998Q patient fibroblasts, the intraflagellar transport protein IFT20 is not localized to vesicles trafficking to the cilium but is restricted to the Golgi. Our findings suggest that at the Golgi, VPS15 and GM130 form a protein complex devoid of VPS34 to ensure the IFT20-dependent sorting and transport of membrane proteins from the cis-Golgi to the primary cilium.

VPS15 is known as a VPS34-associated protein that functions in intracellular trafficking and autophagy. Here the authors identify a role for VPS15 in ciliopathy and ciliary phenotypes, and show that it interacts with GM130 and functions in IFT20-dependent cis-Golgi to cilium trafficking.

A filter at the entrance of the Golgi that selects vesicles according to size and bulk lipid composition

When small phosphatidylcholine liposomes are added to perforated cells, they bind preferentially to the Golgi suggesting an exceptional avidity of this organelle for curved membranes without stereospecific interactions. We show that the cis golgin GMAP-210 accounts for this property. First, the liposome tethering properties of the Golgi resembles that of the amphipathic lipid-packing sensor (ALPS) motif of GMAP-210: both preferred small (radius < 40 nm) liposomes made of monounsaturated but not saturated lipids. Second, reducing GMAP-210 levels or redirecting its ALPS motif to mitochondria decreased liposome capture by the Golgi. Extensive mutagenesis analysis suggests that GMAP-210 tethers authentic transport vesicles via the same mechanism whereby the ALPS motif senses lipid-packing defects at the vesicle surface through its regularly spaced hydrophobic residues. We conclude that the Golgi uses GMAP-210 as a filter to select transport vesicles according to their size and bulk lipid composition.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16988.001

Canonical and noncanonical intraflagellar transport regulates craniofacial skeletal development

The primary cilium is a cellular organelle that coordinates signaling pathways critical for cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and homeostasis. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) plays a pivotal role in assembling primary cilia. Disruption and/or dysfunction of IFT components can cause multiple diseases, including skeletal dysplasia. However, the mechanism by which IFT regulates skeletogenesis remains elusive. Here, we show that a neural crest-specific deletion of intraflagellar transport 20 (Ift20) in mice compromises ciliogenesis and intracellular transport of collagen, which leads to osteopenia in the facial region. Whereas platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) was present on the surface of primary cilia in wild-type osteoblasts, disruption of Ift20 down-regulated PDGFRα production, which caused suppression of PDGF-Akt signaling, resulting in decreased osteogenic proliferation and increased cell death. Although osteogenic differentiation in cranial neural crest (CNC)-derived cells occurred normally in Ift20-mutant cells, the process of mineralization was severely attenuated due to delayed secretion of type I collagen. In control osteoblasts, procollagen was easily transported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus. By contrast, despite having similar levels of collagen type 1 alpha 1 (Col1a1) expression, Ift20 mutants did not secrete procollagen because of dysfunctional ER-to-Golgi trafficking. These data suggest that in the multipotent stem cells of CNCs, IFT20 is indispensable for regulating not only ciliogenesis but also collagen intracellular trafficking. Our study introduces a unique perspective on the canonical and noncanonical functions of IFT20 in craniofacial skeletal development.

Spatial and Functional Aspects of ER-Golgi Rabs and Tethers

Two conserved Rab GTPases, Rab1 and Rab2, play important roles in biosynthetic-secretory trafficking between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus in mammalian cells. Both are expressed as two isoforms that regulate anterograde transport via the intermediate compartment (IC) to the Golgi, but are also required for transport in the retrograde direction. Moreover, Rab1 has been implicated in the formation of autophagosomes. Rab1 and Rab2 have numerous effectors or partners that function in membrane tethering, but also have other roles. These include the coiled-coil proteins p115, GM130, giantin, golgin-84, and GMAP-210, as well as the multisubunit COG (conserved oligomeric Golgi) and TRAPP (transport protein particle) tethering complexes. TRAPP also acts as the GTP exchange factor (GEF) in the activation of Rab1. According to the traditional view of the IC elements as motile, transient structures, the functions of the Rabs could take place at the two ends of the ER-Golgi itinerary, i.e., at ER exit sites (ERES) and/or cis-Golgi. However, there is considerable evidence for their specific association with the IC, including its recently identified pericentrosomal domain (pcIC), where many of the effectors turn out to be present, thus being able to exert their functions at the pre-Golgi level. The IC localization of these proteins is of particular interest based on the imaging of Rab1 dynamics, indicating that the IC is a stable organelle that bidirectionally communicates with the ER and Golgi, and is functionally linked to the endosomal system via the pcIC.

Finding the Golgi: Golgin Coiled-Coil Proteins Show the Way

The Golgi apparatus lies at the centre of the secretory pathway. It consists of a series of flattened compartments typically organised into a stack that, in mammals, is connected to additional stacks to form a Golgi ribbon. The Golgi is responsible for the maturation and modification of proteins and lipids, and receives and exports vesicles to and from multiple destinations within the cell. This complex trafficking network requires that only the correct vesicles fuse with the correct destination membrane. Recently, a group of coiled-coil proteins called golgins were shown to not only capture incoming vesicles but to also provide specificity to the tethering step. This raises many interesting questions about how they interact with other components of membrane traffic, some of which may also contribute to specificity.

The Golgin Family of Coiled-Coil Tethering Proteins

The golgins are a family of predominantly coiled-coil proteins that are localized to the Golgi apparatus. Golgins are present in all eukaryotes, suggesting an evolutionary conserved function. Golgins are anchored to the Golgi membrane by their carboxy terminus and are predicted to adopt an extended conformation that projects into the surrounding cytoplasm. This arrangement is ideal for the capture or tethering of nearby membranes or cytoskeletal elements. Golgin-mediated tethering is thought to be important for vesicular traffic at the Golgi apparatus, the maintenance of Golgi architecture, as well as the positioning of the Golgi apparatus within cells. In addition to acting as tethers, some golgins can also sequester various factors at the Golgi membrane, allowing for the spatiotemporal regulation of downstream cellular functions. Although it is now established that golgins are membrane and cytoskeleton tethers, the mechanisms underlying tethering remain poorly defined. Moreover, the importance of golgin-mediated tethering in a physiological context remains to be fully explored. This review will describe our current understanding of golgin function, highlighting recent progress that has been made, and goes on to discuss outstanding questions and potential avenues for future research with regard to this family of conserved Golgi-associated proteins.

Golgi fragmentation in Alzheimer's disease

The Golgi apparatus is an essential cellular organelle for post-translational modifications, sorting, and trafficking of membrane and secretory proteins. Proper functionality of the Golgi requires the formation of its unique cisternal-stacking morphology. The Golgi structure is disrupted in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a common mechanism and contribution of Golgi defects in neurodegenerative disorders. A recent study on Alzheimer's disease (AD) revealed that phosphorylation of the Golgi stacking protein GRASP65 disrupts its function in Golgi structure formation, resulting in Golgi fragmentation. Inhibiting GRASP65 phosphorylation restores the Golgi morphology from Aβ-induced fragmentation and reduces Aβ production. Perturbing Golgi structure and function in neurons may directly impact trafficking, processing, and sorting of a variety of proteins essential for synaptic and dendritic integrity. Therefore, Golgi defects may ultimately promote the development of AD. In the current review, we focus on the cellular impact of impaired Golgi morphology and its potential relationship to AD disease development.