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J E Rothman

Publications and source records attributed to J E Rothman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Inhibition by brefeldin A of a Golgi membrane enzyme that catalyses exchange of guanine nucleotide bound to ARF.

A wide variety of membrane transformations important in intracellular transport are inhibited by the fungal metabolite brefeldin A (refs 1-4), implying that the target for this drug is central to the formation and maintenance of subcellular compartments. Brefeldin A added to cells causes the rapid and reversible dissociation of a Golgi-associated peripheral membrane protein (M(r) 110,000) which was found to be identical to one of the subunits of the coat of Golgi-derived (non-clathrin) coated vesicles, beta-COP, implying that brefeldin A prevents transport by blocking the assembly of coats and thus the budding of enclosed vesicles. In addition to the coatomer (a cytosol-derived complex of seven polypeptide chains, one of which is beta-COP), the non-clathrin (COP) coat of Golgi-derived vesicles contains stoichiometric amounts of a small (M(r) approximately 20,000) GTP-binding protein, the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF). Binding of ARF to Golgi membranes is necessary before coatomer/beta-COP can bind these membranes (ref. 12; and D. J. Palmer et al., manuscript submitted), so the primary effect of brefeldin A seems to be on the reaction responsible for ARF binding. Indeed, like beta-COP, ARF is dissociated from the Golgi complex by treatment with brefeldin A and brefeldin A prevents ARF from associating in vitro, but the mechanism of this action by brefeldin A has been unclear. Here we report the discovery of an enzyme in a Golgi-enriched fraction that catalyses guanine nucleotide (GDP-GTP) exchange on ARF-1 protein, and which is inhibited by brefeldin A. We suggest that activation of ARF proteins for membrane localization by compartmentalized exchange enzymes is in general the first committed step in membrane transformation pathways.

ADP-Ribosylation Factors↗

The amino terminus of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) is a critical determinant of ARF activities and is a potent and specific inhibitor of protein transport.

Deletion of the amino-terminal 17 residues from human ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) resulted in a protein ([delta 1-17]mARF1p) devoid of ARF activity but which retained the ability to bind guanine nucleotides with high affinity. Unlike the wild type, the binding of guanine nucleotides to this deletion mutant was found to be independent of added phospholipids. A chimeric protein was produced, consisting of 10% (the amino-terminal 17 amino acids) human ARF1p and 90% ARL1p, an ARF-like protein (55% identical protein sequence) from Drosophila. This chimera was found to have ARF activity, lacking in the parental ARL1 protein. Thus, the amino terminus of ARF1p was shown to be a critical component of ARF activity. A synthetic peptide, derived from the amino terminus of ARF1p, has no ARF activity. Rather, the peptide was found to be a specific inhibitor of ARF activities. This peptide was also found to be a potent and specific inhibitor of both an in vitro intra-Golgi transport assay and the guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate-stimulated accumulation of coated vesicles and buds from Golgi preparations. We conclude that ARF is required for the budding of coated vesicles from the Golgi stacks and serves a regulatory role in protein secretion through the Golgi in eukaryotic cells.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗

The yeast SEC17 gene product is functionally equivalent to mammalian alpha-SNAP protein.

The SEC17 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Here we report that the product of the SEC17 gene has the exact biochemical properties expected for a yeast homologue of the mammalian transport factor, alpha-SNAP. The DNA sequence of SEC17 codes for a protein of predicted molecular mass of 33 kDa. Immunoblotting indicates that Sec17p fractionates as a peripheral membrane protein and is mostly soluble when overexpressed, suggesting the presence of a saturable membrane receptor for Sec17p. Sec17p was purified from yeast cytosol using a SNAP-dependent in vitro mammalian Golgi transport assay. Kinetic analysis using this assay shows Sec17p acts temporally close to the fusion of transport vesicles with the medial Golgi compartment. In yeast extracts, Sec17p binds to Sec18p with a 1:1 stoichiometry. The interaction between Sec17p and Sec18p requires an activity provided by yeast membranes, and this putative membrane receptor activity is not extracted by high salt treatment of membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment proteins (SNAPs) bind to a multi-SNAP receptor complex in Golgi membranes.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment proteins (SNAPs) are required for the binding of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) to Golgi membranes and are, therefore, required for intra-Golgi transport. We report the existence of distinct alpha/beta-SNAP and gamma-SNAP-binding sites in Golgi membranes that appear to be part of the same receptor complex. Cross-linking studies with alpha-SNAP demonstrate that an integral membrane protein of between 30-40 kDa is the alpha-SNAP binding component of the multi-SNAP receptor complex. These data suggest that SNAPs function by independently binding to a multi-SNAP membrane-receptor complex, thereby activating them to serve as adaptors for the targeting of NSF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Positive cooperativity in the functioning of molecular chaperone GroEL.

In the presence of its partner, GroES, the tetradecameric molecular chaperone GroEL binds 14 ATP molecules, half of which are hydrolyzed in a cooperative manner. Moreover GroEL can bind, with a positive cooperativity, more than two molecules of nonfolded protein rhodanese. The role of the cooperative mechanism in the functioning of GroEL is discussed.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Molecular dissection of the secretory pathway.

A combination of biochemistry in animal cell-free systems and genetics in yeast is revealing the molecular machinery of the secretory pathway of eukaryotes. Transporting vesicles have a simple coat structure and employ a general mechanism for fusion that is conserved in evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A multisubunit particle implicated in membrane fusion.

The N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein (NSF) is required for fusion of lipid bilayers at many locations within eukaryotic cells. Binding of NSF to Golgi membranes is known to require an integral membrane receptor and one or more members of a family of related soluble NSF attachment proteins (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-SNAPs). Here we demonstrate the direct interaction of NSF, SNAPs and an integral membrane component in a detergent solubilized system. We show that NSF only binds to SNAPs in the presence of the integral receptor, resulting in the formation of a multisubunit protein complex with a sedimentation coefficient of 20S. Particle assembly reveals striking differences between members of the SNAP protein family; gamma-SNAP associates with the complex via a binding site distinct from that used by alpha- and beta-SNAPs, which are themselves equivalent, alternative subunits of the particle. Once formed, the 20S particle is subsequently able to disassemble in a process coupled to the hydrolysis of ATP. We suggest how cycles of complex assembly and disassembly could help confer specificity to the generalized NSF-dependent fusion apparatus.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A novel 115-kD peripheral membrane protein is required for intercisternal transport in the Golgi stack.

We have used an in vitro Golgi protein transport assay dependent on high molecular weight (greater than 100 kD) cytosolic and/or peripheral membrane proteins to study the requirements for transport from the cis- to the medial-compartment. Fractionation of this system indicates that, besides the NEM-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) and the soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP), at least three high molecular weight protein fractions from bovine liver cytosol are required. The activity from one of these fractions was purified using an assay that included the second and third fractions in a crude state. The result is a protein of 115-kD subunit molecular mass, which we term p115. Immunodepletion of the 115-kD protein from a purified preparation with mAbs removes activity. Peptide sequence analysis of tryptic peptides indicates that p115 is a "novel" protein that has not been described previously. Gel filtration and sedimentation analysis indicate that, in its native state, p115 is a nonglobular homo-oligomer. p115 is present on purified Golgi membranes and can be extracted with high salt concentration or alkaline pH, indicating that it is peripherally associated with the membrane. Indirect immunofluorescence indicates that p115 is associated with the Golgi apparatus in situ.

Animals↗

Peptide-binding specificity of the molecular chaperone BiP.

Members of the heat-shock protein family (hsp70s) can distinguish folded from unfolded proteins. This property is crucial to the role of hsp70s as molecular chaperones and is attributable to the amino-acid specificity of the peptide-binding site. The specificity for peptide ligands is investigated using a set of peptides of random sequence but defined chain length. The peptide-binding site selects for aliphatic residues and accommodates them in an environment energetically equivalent to the interior of a folded protein.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

ADP-ribosylation factor is a subunit of the coat of Golgi-derived COP-coated vesicles: a novel role for a GTP-binding protein.

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) is an abundant and highly conserved low molecular weight GTP-binding protein that was originally identified as a key element required for the action of cholera toxin in mammalian cells, but whose physiological role is unknown. We report that ARF family proteins are highly concentrated in non-clathrin-coated transport vesicles and are coat proteins. About three copies of ARF are present on the outside of coated vesicles per alpha-COP (and thus per coatomer). ARF is highly enriched in coated vesicles as compared with parental Golgi cisternae, as shown both by biochemical and morphological methods, and ARF is removed from transport vesicles through uncoating during transport. Furthermore, ARF binds to Golgi cisternae in a GTP-dependent manner independently of coated vesicle budding. These observations strongly suggest a new role for GTP-binding proteins: ARF proteins may modulate vesicle budding and uncoating through controlled GTP hydrolysis.

ADP-Ribosylation Factors↗

Brefeldin A, a drug that blocks secretion, prevents the assembly of non-clathrin-coated buds on Golgi cisternae.

We report that brefeldin A prevents the assembly of non-clathrin-coated vesicles from Golgi cisternae in a cell-free system. This finding provides a simple molecular explanation for the primary effect of this remarkable compound in blocking constitutive secretion. We further report that when coated vesicle assembly is blocked, extensive tubule networks form that connect previously separate cisternae and stacks into a single topological unit, allowing the intermixing of contents of Golgi cisternae, presumably by lateral diffusion. Formation of the tubule networks requires ATP, cytosol, and the general fusion protein NSF. Tubule networks may be related to the membrane tubules mediating retrograde transport in vivo.

Animals↗

Enzymology of intracellular membrane fusion.

A combination of cell-free biochemical and morphological studies has revealed that a coated bud-coated vesicle transport system shuttles newly synthesized proteins through the successive processing compartments of the Golgi apparatus. These "Golgi coated vesicles" operate in a manner formally analogous to the clathrin coated pit-coated vesicle system responsible for receptor-mediated endocytosis; however Golgi coated vesicles do not contain clathrin.

Biological Transport↗