Lysosomal Protein Transmembrane Research Articles

Dileucine signal-dependent and AP-1-independent targeting of a lysosomal glycoprotein in Trypanosoma brucei

Sorting of trans-membrane proteins destined for the lysosome is achieved by selective inclusion into post-Golgi transport vesicles. In higher eukaryotes sorting may be mediated by a peptidic motif, principally acidic clusters and tyrosine- or dileucine-based cytoplasmic signals or by inclusion of mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) into the N-glycans of lysosomal proteins. In African trypanosomes a major lysosomal trans-membrane protein is CB-1/p67. The cytoplasmic domain of p67 lacks tyrosine and lysine, but does contain a canonical dileucine sequence embedded within an acidic region. AP-1, -3 and -4 adaptin complexes, which recognise tyrosine- and dileucine-sorting signals, are encoded by the trypanosome genome, but the genes for M6P-receptors or activities required to produce M6P are absent, suggesting that lysosomal delivery of p67 is most likely adaptin-mediated. By construction of p67 reporter constructs we show that the dileucine signal is necessary and sufficient for efficient lysosomal delivery of a trans-membrane protein in bloodstream stage trypanosomes. However, this targeting does not require AP-1, as knockdown of the trypanosome γ-adaptin subunit by RNAi has no detectable effect on the location or maturation of p67. These data suggest that p67 is targeted to the lysosome by dileucine-dependent but AP-1-independent mechanisms.

Transport of LAPTM5 to lysosomes requires association with the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4, but not LAPTM5 ubiquitination

LAPTM5 is a lysosomal transmembrane protein expressed in immune cells. We show that LAPTM5 binds the ubiquitin-ligase Nedd4 and GGA3 to promote LAPTM5 sorting from the Golgi to the lysosome, an event that is independent of LAPTM5 ubiquitination. LAPTM5 contains three PY motifs (L/PPxY), which bind Nedd4-WW domains, and a ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM) motif. The Nedd4–LAPTM5 complex recruits ubiquitinated GGA3, which binds the LAPTM5-UIM; this interaction does not require the GGA3-GAT domain. LAPTM5 mutated in its Nedd4-binding sites (PY motifs) or its UIM is retained in the Golgi, as is LAPTM5 expressed in cells in which Nedd4 or GGA3 is knocked-down with RNAi. However, ubiquitination-impaired LAPTM5 can still traffic to the lysosome, suggesting that Nedd4 binding to LAPTM5, not LAPTM5 ubiquitination, is required for targeting. Interestingly, Nedd4 is also able to ubiquitinate GGA3. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which the ubiquitin-ligase Nedd4, via interactions with GGA3 and cargo (LAPTM5), regulates cargo trafficking to the lysosome without requiring cargo ubiquitination.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lacking Btn1p Modulate Vacuolar ATPase Activity to Regulate pH Imbalance in the Vacuole

The vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) along with ion channels and transporters maintains vacuolar pH. V-ATPase ATP hydrolysis is coupled with proton transport and establishes an electrochemical gradient between the cytosol and vacuolar lumen for coupled transport of metabolites. Btn1p, the yeast homolog to human CLN3 that is defective in Batten disease, localizes to the vacuole. We previously reported that Btn1p is required for vacuolar pH maintenance and ATP-dependent vacuolar arginine transport. We report that extracellular pH alters both V-ATPase activity and proton transport into the vacuole of wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. V-ATPase activity is modulated through the assembly and disassembly of the V(0) and V(1) V-ATPase subunits located in the vacuolar membrane and on the cytosolic side of the vacuolar membrane, respectively. V-ATPase assembly is increased in yeast cells grown in high extracellular pH. In addition, at elevated extracellular pH, S. cerevisiae lacking BTN1 (btn1-Delta), have decreased V-ATPase activity while proton transport into the vacuole remains similar to that for wild type. Thus, coupling of V-ATPase activity and proton transport in btn1-Delta is altered. We show that down-regulation of V-ATPase activity compensates the vacuolar pH imbalance for btn1-Delta at early growth phases. We therefore propose that Btn1p is required for tight regulation of vacuolar pH to maintain the vacuolar luminal content and optimal activity of this organelle and that disruption in Btn1p function leads to a modulation of V-ATPase activity to maintain cellular pH homeostasis and vacuolar luminal content.

An acetylated 120-kDa lysosomal transmembrane protein is absent from mucopolysaccharidosis IIIC fibroblasts: A candidate molecule for MPS IIIC

Genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, acetyl-CoA: α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase ( N-acetyltransferase), which catalyses the transmembrane acetylation of heparan sulfate results in severe neurodegenerative disease, mucopolysaccharidosis IIIC. N-Acetyltransferase has never been characterized structurally and its gene has never been identified. We combined traditional methods of enzyme purification with organellar proteomics, isolating lysosomal membranes from mouse liver using differential centrifugation and osmolysis, followed by detergent extraction and purification of N-acetyltransferase by liquid chromatography. Partially purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 240 kDa and p I of 7.4 by gel filtration and chromatofocusing. Its specific activity varied with protein concentration typical of oligomeric enzymes or multienzyme complexes. Incubation of N-acetyltransferase with acetyl[ 14C]CoA in the absence of the acceptor of the acetyl group resulted in radioactive labeling of a 120-kDa polypeptide, suggesting that it represents a subunit containing the enzyme active site. Furthermore, following acetyl[ 14C]-labeling, the 120-kDa protein was present in the lysosomal membranes purified from the normal human skin fibroblasts but absent in those from the skin fibroblasts of MPS IIIC patients.

Glutathione precursors replenish decreased glutathione pool in cystinotic cell lines

Cystinosis is an inherited disorder due to mutations in the CTNS gene which encodes cystinosin, a lysosomal transmembrane protein involved in cystine export to the cytosol. Both accumulation of cystine in the lysosome and decreased cystine in the cytosol may participate in the pathogenic mechanism underlying the disease. We observed that cystinotic cell lines have moderate decrease of glutathione content during exponential growth phase. This resulted in increased solicitation of oxidative defences of the cell denoted by concurrent superoxide dismutase induction, although without major oxidative insult under our experimental conditions. Finally, decreased glutathione content in cystinotic cell lines could be counterbalanced by a series of exogenous precursors of cysteine, denoting that lysosomal cystine export is a natural source of cellular cysteine in the studied cell lines.