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W E Balch

Publications and source records attributed to W E Balch.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Sequential coupling between COPII and COPI vesicle coats in endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport.

COPI and COPII are vesicle coat complexes whose assembly is regulated by the ARF1 and Sar1 GTPases, respectively. We show that COPI and COPII coat complexes are recruited separately and independently to ER (COPII), pre-Golgi (COPI, COPII), and Golgi (COPI) membranes of mammalian cells. To address their individual roles in ER to Golgi transport, we used stage specific in vitro transport assays to synchronize movement of cargo to and from pre-Golgi intermediates, and GDP- and GTP-restricted forms of Sar1 and ARF1 proteins to control coat recruitment. We find that COPII is solely responsible for export from the ER, is lost rapidly following vesicle budding and mediates a vesicular step required for the build-up of pre-Golgi intermediates composed of clusters of vesicles and small tubular elements. COPI is recruited onto pre-Golgi intermediates where it initiates segregation of the anterograde transported protein vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) from the retrograde transported protein p58, a protein which actively recycles between the ER and pre-Golgi intermediates. We propose that sequential coupling between COPII and COPI coats is essential to coordinate and direct bi-directional vesicular traffic between the ER and pre-Golgi intermediates involved in transport of protein to the Golgi complex.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗
PubMed1994

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data for Rab guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (RabGDI) from bovine brain.

X-ray quality crystals of Rab guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (RabGDI) from bovine brain expressed in Escherichia coli have been obtained from 1.73 M ammonium sulfate. The crystals are prismatic long rods and belong to the monoclinic space group P21 with approximate cell dimensions a = 91.9 A, b = 43.5 A, c = 63.2 A, beta = 104.5 degrees and one molecule per asymmetric unit. The crystals are stable in the X-ray beam and diffract to at least 2.3 A. Reverse screening, streak seeding and macroseeding methods were used to obtain and improve the crystals.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Syntaxin 5 regulates endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport.

Syntaxins are a family of vesicular transport receptors that are involved in membrane traffic through both the constitutive and regulated secretory pathways. Syntaxins 1A/B,2,3, and 4 are principally associated with the plasma membrane. Two of the syntaxins, 1A and 1B, have been suggested to be the docking receptors for synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. The most distant member of the family, syntaxin 5, has been found in the Golgi region and has significant homology (35% identity) with Sed5p, an essential protein in yeast which is required for vesicular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi stack. Here we present evidence that syntaxin 5 performs an analogous function in ER to Golgi transport in mammalian cells. Transient expression of an hemagglutinin-tagged full-length clone of syntaxin 5 and a truncated mutant lacking the transmembrane domain inhibited the transport of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein to the Golgi stack. Under these conditions, vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein accumulated in pre-Golgi intermediates, which were strongly enriched in syntaxin 5. Our results suggest that syntaxin 5 is the functional mammalian homologue of Sed5p and provides evidence for its role in regulating the potential targeting and/or fusion of carrier vesicles following export from the ER.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Export of protein from the endoplasmic reticulum is regulated by a diacylglycerol/phorbol ester binding protein.

The export of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) involves sorting and concentration, and has been proposed to require the function of heterotrimeric G proteins. To begin to identify the basic elements of a potential signaling pathway involved in vesicle assembly, we have examined whether protein kinase C (PKC) is required for ER to Golgi transport. Calphostin C, a specific inhibitor of the highly conserved cysteine-rich C6H2 motif present in the regulatory domain of PKC was found to be a potent inhibitor of export of VSV-G and vesicle budding from the ER in vivo and in vitro (IC50 approximately 60 nM). In contrast, the diacylglycerol analog phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which activates PKC, enhanced the migration of VSV-G from the ER to pre-Golgi intermediates. Neither reagent had detectable effects on the oligomerization of VSV-G prior to export nor perturbed transport of protein between compartments of the Golgi stack. In contrast to the striking effects of calphostin C, reagents that inhibit the function of the catalytic domain of PKC (including the general kinase inhibitor staurosporine, as well as the more specific inhibitors H-7, H-8, pseudosubstrate inhibitor, or chelerythrine) did not inhibit export from the ER. Export was also insensitive to down-regulation of various PKC isoforms. These results suggest that a novel protein containing the conserved C6H2 motif may serve as a potential link in a signaling pathway regulating vesicle budding from the ER.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is sorted and concentrated during export from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Newly synthesized proteins are believed to move from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi by bulk flow, and sorting is assumed to occur exclusively in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Using quantitative immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrate that vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) is sorted from resident ER proteins and concentrated 5- to 10-fold in 40-80 nm vesicles during vesicle budding from the ER. Accumulation of VSV-G in pre-Golgi vesicular carriers is the only detectable concentration step in its transport to the TGN. From these results, it is apparent that export from the ER is not exclusively mediated by bulk flow. The ER exerts an unanticipated level of control to insure selective and efficient entry of mature protein into the secretory pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Dominant inhibitory mutants of ARF1 block endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport and trigger disassembly of the Golgi apparatus.

Using three different trans dominant mutants of bovine ARF1 affecting GDP exchange or GTP hydrolysis we demonstrate the central role of ARF1 in controlling vesicular traffic from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus and between successive Golgi compartments. Overexpression of ARF1(Q71L), a mutant likely to be restricted to the GTP-bound form, resulted in the accumulation of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein in pre-Golgi intermediates, inhibited transport between successive Golgi compartments, and led to a striking association of beta-COP with pre-Golgi intermediates and the Golgi stack. In contrast, ARF1(T31N), a mutant which is likely to have a preferential affinity for GDP compared to the wild-type protein, inhibited export from the ER and triggered a brefeldin A-like phenotype, resulting in the redistribution of beta-COP from Golgi membranes to the cytosol and the collapse of the Golgi into the ER. This mutant, which may efficiently sequester an ARF-specific guanine nucleotide-exchange protein (ARF-GEF), suggests that ARF and ARF-GEF are essential for export from the ER. These results are discussed in the context of the GDP and GTP-bound forms of ARF in controlling both membrane structure and vesicular traffic through the early secretory pathway.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗
PubMed1994

Sar1 promotes vesicle budding from the endoplasmic reticulum but not Golgi compartments.

Two new members (Sar1a and Sar1b) of the SAR1 gene family have been identified in mammalian cells. Using immunoelectron microscopy, Sar1 was found to be restricted to the transitional region where the protein was enriched 20-40-fold in vesicular carriers mediating ER to Golgi traffic. Biochemical analysis revealed that Sar1 was essential for an early step in vesicle budding. A Sar1-specific antibody potently inhibited export of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) from the ER in vitro. Consistent with the role of guanine nucleotide exchange in Sar1 function, a trans-dominant mutant (Sar1a[T39N]) with a preferential affinity for GDP also strongly inhibited vesicle budding from the ER. In contrast, Sar1 was not found to be required for the transport of VSV-G between sequential Golgi compartments, suggesting that components active in formation of vesicular carriers mediating ER to Golgi traffic may differ, at least in part, from those involved in intra-Golgi transport. The requirement for novel components at different stages of the secretory pathway may reflect the recently recognized differences in protein transport between the Golgi stacks as opposed to the selective sorting and concentration of protein during export from the ER.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A GDP-bound of rab1 inhibits protein export from the endoplasmic reticulum and transport between Golgi compartments.

Rab1 is a small GTPase regulating vesicular traffic between early compartments of the secretory pathway. To explore the role of rab1 we have analyzed the function of a mutant (rab1a[S25N]) containing a substitution which perturbs Mg2+ coordination and reduces the affinity for GTP, resulting in a form which is likely to be restricted to the GDP-bound state. The rab1a(S25N) mutant led to a marked reduction in protein export from the ER in vivo and in vitro, indicating that a guanine nucleotide exchange protein (GEP) is critical for the recruitment of rab1 during vesicle budding. The mutant protein required posttranslational isoprenylation for inhibition and behaved as a competitive inhibitor of wild-type rab1 function. Both rab1a and rab1b (92% identity) were able to antagonize the inhibitory activity of the rab1a(S25N) mutant, suggesting that these two isoforms are functionally interchangeable. The rab1 mutant also inhibited transport between Golgi compartments and resulted in an apparent loss of the Golgi apparatus, suggesting that Golgi integrity is coupled to rab1 function in vesicular traffic.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Rab1 and Ca2+ are required for the fusion of carrier vesicles mediating endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport.

Members of the rab/YPT1/SEC4 gene family of small molecular weight GTPases play key roles in the regulation of vesicular traffic between compartments of the exocytic pathway. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrate that a dominant negative rab1a mutant, rab1a(N124I), defective for guanine nucleotide binding in vitro, leads to the accumulation of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) in numerous pre-cis-Golgi vesicles and vesicular-tubular clusters containing rab1 and beta-COP, a subunit of the coatomer complex. Similar to previous observations (Balch et al. 1994. Cell. 76:841-852), VSV-G was concentrated nearly 5-10-fold in vesicular carriers that accumulate in the presence of the rab1a(N124I) mutant. VSV-G containing vesicles and vesicular-tubular clusters were also found to accumulate in the presence of a rab1a effector domain peptide mimetic that inhibits endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport, as well as in the absence of Ca2+. These results suggest that the combined action of a Ca(2+)-dependent protein and conformational changes associated with the GTPase cycle of rab1 are essential for a late targeting/fusion step controlling the delivery of vesicles to Golgi compartments.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A Rab1 mutant affecting guanine nucleotide exchange promotes disassembly of the Golgi apparatus.

The Golgi apparatus is a dynamic organelle whose structure is sensitive to vesicular traffic and to cell cycle control. We have examined the potential role for rab1a, a GTPase previously associated with ER to Golgi and intra-Golgi transport, in the formation and maintenance of Golgi structure. Bacterially expressed, recombinant rab1a protein was microinjected into rat embryonic fibroblasts, followed by analysis of Golgi morphology by fluorescence and electron microscopy. Three recombinant proteins were tested: wild-type rab, mutant rab1a(S25N), a constitutively GDP-bound form (Nuoffer, C., H. W. Davidson, J. Matteson, J. Meinkoth, and W. E. Balch, 1994. J. Cell Biol. 125: 225-237), and mutant rab1a(N124I) defective in guanine nucleotide binding. Microinjection of wild-type rab1a protein or a variety of negative controls (injection buffer alone or activated ras protein) did not affect the appearance of the Golgi, as visualized by immunofluorescence of alpha-mannosidase II (Man II), used as a Golgi marker. In contrast, microinjection of the mutant forms promoted the disassembly of the Golgi stacks into dispersed vesicular structures visualized by immunofluorescence. When S25N-injected cells were analyzed by EM after immunoperoxidase labeling, Man II was found in isolated ministacks and large vesicular elements that were often surrounded by numerous smaller unlabeled vesicles resembling carrier vesicles. Golgi disassembly caused by rab1a mutants differs from BFA-induced disruption, since beta-COP remains membrane associated, and Man II does not redistribute to the ER. BFA can still cause these residual Golgi elements to fuse and disperse, albeit at a slower rate. Moreover, BFA recovery is incomplete in the presence of rab1 mutants or GTP gamma S. We conclude that GTP exchange and hydrolysis by GTPases, specifically rab1a, are required to form and maintain normal Golgi stacks. The similarity of Golgi disassembly seen with rab1a mutants to that occurring during mitosis, may point to a molecular basis involving rab1a for fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus during cell division.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor is essential for Rab1 function in budding from the endoplasmic reticulum and transport through the Golgi stack.

The small GTPase Rab1 is required for vesicular traffic from the ER to the cis-Golgi compartment, and for transport between the cis and medial compartments of the Golgi stack. In the present study, we examine the role of guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) in regulating the function of Rab1 in the transport of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) in vitro. Incubation in the presence of excess GDI rapidly (t1/2 < 30 s) extracted Rab1 from membranes, inhibiting vesicle budding from the ER and sequential transport between the cis-, medial-, and trans-Golgi cisternae. These results demonstrate a direct role for GDI in the recycling of Rab proteins. Analysis of rat liver cytosol by gel filtration revealed that a major pool of Rab1 fractionates with a molecular mass of approximately 80 kD in the form of a GDI-Rab1 complex. When the GDI-Rab1 complex was depleted from cytosol by use of a Rab1-specific antibody, VSV-G failed to exit the ER. However, supplementation of depleted cytosol with a GDI-Rab1 complex prepared in vitro from recombinant forms of Rab1 and GDI efficiently restored export from the ER, and transport through the Golgi stack. These results provide evidence that a cytosolic GDI-Rab1 complex is required for the formation of non-clathrin-coated vesicles mediating transport through the secretory pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Stimulation of insulin release from permeabilized HIT-T15 cells by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the effector domain of the small GTP-binding protein rab3.

A synthetic peptide (rab3AL) corresponding to the effector domain of rab3, a small GTP-binding protein, stimulated basal and potentiated Ca(2+)- as well as GTP gamma S-evoked insulin secretion about 2-fold from streptolysin-O permeabilized HIT cells. This effect was specific, since the analogous peptides of ras or rab1 did not affect the exocytotic event. The more than additive effect of rab3AL on Ca2+ or GTP gamma S stimulation indicates a distinct mode of action of the peptide. The partial loss of cytosolic proteins from permeabilized cells was accompanied by a faster run-down of the secretory response to Ca2+ than the one to GTP gamma S. The persistent effect of rab3AL under these conditions points to a membrane localization of its target. These results suggest that rab3 and its effector are involved in the regulation of insulin secretion.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

Oligomerization of immunoglobulin G heavy and light chains in vitro. A cell-free assay to study the assembly of the endoplasmic reticulum.

A biochemical assay to study the assembly of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a cell-free system is introduced. Incubation in vitro of ER vesicles containing only immunoglobulin gamma 1 heavy (H) chains with ER vesicles containing only K light (L) chains results in fusion and oligomerization of the H and L chains to form the H2L2 complex (immunoglobulin G). ER fusion/H2L2 oligomerization is time and temperature dependent and requires energy in the form of ATP. It is stimulated by the addition of cytosol and requires protease-sensitive components present on the membranes. The addition of guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) inhibits membrane fusion and subsequent H2L2 oligomerization without affecting the assembly of H2L2 from detergent-solubilized pools, suggesting an important role for GTPases in vesicle recognition or fusion. The development of a rapid and quantitative assay to study the assembly of the ER in a cell-free system will allow us to identify components involved in the recognition, fusion, and post-fusion events critical for ER function in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Differential inhibition of multiple vesicular transport steps between the endoplasmic reticulum and trans Golgi network.

Using the glycoprotein of the tsO45 mutant of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) as a marker, we have developed a system capable of measuring vesicular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the trans Golgi network (TGN) in vitro. Movement from the ER to the cis Golgi compartment was assessed by the conversion of VSV-G from a totally endoglycosidase D (endo D)-resistant form to a species containing one endo D-resistant and one endo D-sensitive oligosaccharide (GD1). Similarly, delivery to the medial cisternae was measured by the appearance of the completely endo D-sensitive form of VSV-G (GD2) or by the acquisition of complete resistance to endoglycosidase H (endo H) (GHr) and delivery to the TGN by the appearance of an endo H-resistant form of VSV-G which was sensitive to digestion with neuraminidase and subsequently beta-galactosidase (GHt). Movement between each sequential compartment required ATP and soluble proteins (cytosol) and was inhibited by nonhydrolyzable analogues of GTP and by an antibody toward the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor NSF. In contrast, fractionation of the cytosol by ammonium sulfate precipitation indicated that distinct proteins were required for movement between successive compartments. Similarly, inclusion of a mutant form of the small molecular weight GTP-binding protein rab1A inhibited movement between the ER and cis Golgi, and between the cis and medial cisternae, but did not affect transport from the medial Golgi to the TGN. Conversely, the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine prevented movement between the medial Golgi and the TGN but did not influence transport between the ER and early Golgi compartments. This study provides the first demonstration that vesicular transport between the ER and TGN can be reconstituted in a cytosol-dependent fashion in vitro, allowing a direct analysis of the roles of individual components in multiple transport events.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Beta-COP is essential for transport of protein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi in vitro.

Using a novel in vitro assay which allows us to distinguish vesicle budding from subsequent targeting and fusion steps, we provide the first biological evidence that beta-COP, a component of non-clathrin-coated vesicles believed to mediate intraGolgi transport, is essential for transport of protein from the ER to the cis-Golgi compartment. Incubation in the presence of beta-COP specific antibodies and F(ab) fragments prevents the exit of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) from the ER. These results demonstrate that beta-COP is required for the assembly of coat complexes mediating vesicle budding. Fractionation of rat liver cytosol revealed that a major biologically active form of beta-COP was found in a high molecular pool (> 1,000 kD) distinct from coatomer and which promoted efficient vesicle budding from the ER. Surprisingly, rab1B could be quantitatively coprecipitated with this beta-COP containing complex and was also essential for function. We suggest that beta-COP functions in an early step during vesicle formation and that rab1B may be recruited as a component of a precoat complex which participates in the export of protein from the ER via vesicular carriers.

Animals↗