Essential function of Drosophila Sec6 in apical exocytosis of epithelial photoreceptor cells

Polarized exocytosis plays a major role in development and cell differentiation but the mechanisms that target exocytosis to specific membrane domains in animal cells are still poorly understood. We characterized Drosophila Sec6, a component of the exocyst complex that is believed to tether secretory vesicles to specific plasma membrane sites. sec6 mutations cause cell lethality and disrupt plasma membrane growth. In developing photoreceptor cells (PRCs), Sec6 but not Sec5 or Sec8 shows accumulation at adherens junctions. In late PRCs, Sec6, Sec5, and Sec8 colocalize at the rhabdomere, the light sensing subdomain of the apical membrane. PRCs with reduced Sec6 function accumulate secretory vesicles and fail to transport proteins to the rhabdomere, but show normal localization of proteins to the apical stalk membrane and the basolateral membrane. Furthermore, we show that Rab11 forms a complex with Sec5 and that Sec5 interacts with Sec6 suggesting that the exocyst is a Rab11 effector that facilitates protein transport to the apical rhabdomere in Drosophila PRCs.

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Epithelial polarity requires septin coupling of vesicle transport to polyglutamylated microtubules

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.200710039 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 180 (2) ◽

pp. 295-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Elias T. Spiliotis ◽

Stephen J. Hunt ◽

Qicong Hu ◽

Makoto Kinoshita ◽

W. James Nelson

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Basolateral Membrane ◽

Vesicle Transport ◽

Epithelial Polarity ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Polarized Epithelia ◽

Membrane Growth ◽

Basolateral Plasma Membrane ◽

Golgi Network

In epithelial cells, polarized growth and maintenance of apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains depend on protein sorting from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and vesicle delivery to the plasma membrane. Septins are filamentous GTPases required for polarized membrane growth in budding yeast, but whether they function in epithelial polarity is unknown. Here, we show that in epithelial cells septin 2 (SEPT2) fibers colocalize with a subset of microtubule tracks composed of polyglutamylated (polyGlu) tubulin, and that vesicles containing apical or basolateral proteins exit the TGN along these SEPT2/polyGlu microtubule tracks. Tubulin-associated SEPT2 facilitates vesicle transport by maintaining polyGlu microtubule tracks and impeding tubulin binding of microtubule-associated protein 4 (MAP4). Significantly, this regulatory step is required for polarized, columnar-shaped epithelia biogenesis; upon SEPT2 depletion, cells become short and fibroblast-shaped due to intracellular accumulation of apical and basolateral membrane proteins, and loss of vertically oriented polyGlu microtubules. We suggest that septin coupling of the microtubule cytoskeleton to post-Golgi vesicle transport is required for the morphogenesis of polarized epithelia.

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An Apical-Type Trafficking Pathway Is Present in Cultured Oligodendrocytes but the Sphingolipid-enriched Myelin Membrane Is the Target of a Basolateral-Type Pathway

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.9.3.599 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 599-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Hans de Vries ◽

Cobi Schrage ◽

Dick Hoekstra

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Apical Membrane ◽

Basolateral Membrane ◽

Insoluble Fraction ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Myelin Membrane ◽

Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin ◽

Polarized Cells ◽

Vesicular Stomatitis ◽

Triton X

Myelin sheets originate from distinct areas at the oligodendrocyte (OLG) plasma membrane and, as opposed to the latter, myelin membranes are relatively enriched in glycosphingolipids and cholesterol. The OLG plasma membrane can therefore be considered to consist of different membrane domains, as in polarized cells; the myelin sheet is reminiscent of an apical membrane domain and the OLG plasma membrane resembles the basolateral membrane. To reveal the potentially polarized membrane nature of OLG, the trafficking and sorting of two typical markers for apical and basolateral membranes, the viral proteins influenza virus–hemagglutinin (HA) and vesicular stomatitis virus–G protein (VSVG), respectively, were examined. We demonstrate that in OLG, HA and VSVG are differently sorted, which presumably occurs upon their trafficking through the Golgi. HA can be recovered in a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction, indicating an apical raft type of trafficking, whereas VSVG was only present in a Triton X-100-soluble fraction, consistent with its basolateral sorting. Hence, both an apical and a basolateral sorting mechanism appear to operate in OLG. Surprisingly, however, VSVG was found within the myelin sheets surrounding the cells, whereas HA was excluded from this domain. Therefore, despite its raft-like transport, HA does not reach a membrane that shows features typical of an apical membrane. This finding indicates either the uniqueness of the myelin membrane or the requirement of additional regulatory factors, absent in OLG, for apical delivery. These remarkable results emphasize that polarity and regulation of membrane transport in cultured OLG display features that are quite different from those in polarized cells.

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Dynamics of the apical vesicle accumulation and the rate of growth are related in individual pollen tubes

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.114.14.2685 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 114 (14) ◽

pp. 2685-2695 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. M. Parton ◽

S. Fischer-Parton ◽

M. K. Watahiki ◽

A. J. Trewavas

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Plasma Membrane ◽

Pollen Tube ◽

Staining Pattern ◽

Periodic Oscillation ◽

Quantitative Relationship ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Apical Region ◽

Secretory Vesicles ◽

Animal Cells

Regulated secretory vesicle delivery, vesicle fusion and rapid membrane recycling are all contentious issues with respect to tip growth in plant, fungal and animal cells. To examine the organisation and dynamics of membrane movements at the growing pollen tube apex and address the question of their relationship to growth, we have used the membrane stain FM4-64 both as a structural marker and as a quantitative assay. Labelling of living Lilium Longiflorum pollen tubes by FM4-64 resulted in a distinct staining pattern in the tube apex, which corresponds spatially to the previously identified cone-shaped `apical clear zone' containing secretory vesicles. Dye uptake could be inhibited by sodium azide and followed a strict temporal sequence from the plasma membrane to a population of small (1-2 μm diameter) discrete internal structures, with subsequent appearance of dye in the apical region and ultimately in vacuolar membranes. Washout of the dye rapidly removed the plasma membrane staining, which was followed by a gradual decline in the apical fluorescence over more than an hour. Injected aqueous FM4-64 solution showed a relatively even distribution within the pollen tube. Association of FM4-64 with apical secretory vesicles was supported by the effects of the inhibitors Brefeldin-A and Cytochalasin-D, which are known to affect the localisation and number of such vesicles, on the FM4-64 staining pattern. Examination of the dynamics of FM4-64 labelling in the pollen tube tip by time-lapse observation, supported by fluorescence-recovery-after-photobleaching (FRAP) analysis, suggested the possibility of distinct pathways of bulk membrane movement both towards and, significantly, away from the apex. Quantitative analysis of FM4-64 distribution in the apex revealed that fluctuations in fluorescence 5 to 10 μm subapically, and to a lesser extent the apical 3 μm, could be related to the periodic oscillation in pollen tube growth rate. This data reveals a quantitative relationship between FM4-64 staining and growth rate within an individual tube.

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The Sur7 Protein Regulates Plasma Membrane Organization and Prevents Intracellular Cell Wall Growth inCandida albicans

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e08-05-0479 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (12) ◽

pp. 5214-5225 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Francisco J. Alvarez ◽

Lois M. Douglas ◽

Adam Rosebrock ◽

James B. Konopka

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Plasma Membrane ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Membrane Organization ◽

Cell Wall Synthesis ◽

Animal Cells ◽

Drugs Analysis ◽

Wall Growth

The Candida albicans plasma membrane plays important roles in cell growth and as a target for antifungal drugs. Analysis of Ca-Sur7 showed that this four transmembrane domain protein localized to stable punctate patches, similar to the plasma membrane subdomains known as eisosomes or MCC that were discovered in S. cerevisiae. The localization of Ca-Sur7 depended on sphingolipid synthesis. In contrast to S. cerevisiae, a C. albicans sur7Δ mutant displayed defects in endocytosis and morphogenesis. Septins and actin were mislocalized, and cell wall synthesis was very abnormal, including long projections of cell wall into the cytoplasm. Several phenotypes of the sur7Δ mutant are similar to the effects of inhibiting β-glucan synthase, suggesting that the abnormal cell wall synthesis is related to activation of chitin synthase activity seen under stress conditions. These results expand the roles of eisosomes by demonstrating that Sur7 is needed for proper plasma membrane organization and cell wall synthesis. A conserved Cys motif in the first extracellular loop of fungal Sur7 proteins is similar to a characteristic motif of the claudin proteins that form tight junctions in animal cells, suggesting a common role for these tetraspanning membrane proteins in forming specialized plasma membrane domains.

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Hepatic Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase enzyme activity correlates with polarized beta-subunit expression

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.1995.269.1.c69 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 269 (1) ◽

pp. C69-C84 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

F. R. Simon ◽

H. L. Leffert ◽

M. Ellisman ◽

M. Iwahashi ◽

T. Deerinck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Northern Blot ◽

Basolateral Membrane ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Beta Subunit ◽

Fluorescence Labeling ◽

Northern Blot Hybridization ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Liver Plasma Membrane ◽

Bipolar Distribution

We have examined underlying causes for observations made in hepatocytes in which catalytic subunits of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase are found both in bile canalicular (apical) and sinusoidal (basolateral) membrane domains, whereas functional activity is associated preferentially with sinusoidal membrane sites. In a series of parallel studies, we determined by both light and electron microscopy that Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunits were localized to both membrane domains of hepatocytes. With the use of purified liver plasma membrane subfractions, ouabain inhibition curves demonstrated similar inhibition constants (inhibition constant 10(-5) M), and immunoblots using alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and alpha 3-polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies demonstrated antigenic sites predominantly for alpha 1 in both membrane fractions. Also, Northern blot hybridization analysis revealed only the alpha 1-isoform in hepatocytes. In contrast to the bipolar distribution of the alpha 1-subunit, the beta-subunit was identified only at the sinusoidal surface using fluorescence labeling with a monoclonal antibody. The beta 1-isoform was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis and was present predominantly at the sinusoidal domain by immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies. In addition to the bipolar distribution of alpha 1, immunoblotting of liver plasma membrane subfractions demonstrated a symmetrical distribution of fodrin, ankyrin, actin, and E-cadherin at both domains. These results suggest that functionally competent alpha/beta-complexes form at the sinusoidal domain, whereas only alpha 1-subunits are present at the apical pole.

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Apiconuclear Organization of Microtubules Does Not Specify Protein Delivery from the Trans-Golgi Network to Different Membrane Domains in Polarized Epithelial Cells

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.9.3.685 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 685-699 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Kent K. Grindstaff ◽

Robert L. Bacallao ◽

W. James Nelson

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Golgi Complex ◽

Apical Membrane ◽

Basolateral Membrane ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Trans Golgi Network ◽

G Cells ◽

Polarized Epithelial Cells ◽

Golgi Network

In nonpolarized epithelial cells, microtubules originate from a broad perinuclear region coincident with the distribution of the Golgi complex and extend outward to the cell periphery (perinuclear [PN] organization). During development of epithelial cell polarity, microtubules reorganize to form long cortical filaments parallel to the lateral membrane, a meshwork of randomly oriented short filaments beneath the apical membrane, and short filaments at the base of the cell; the Golgi becomes localized above the nucleus in the subapical membrane cytoplasm (apiconuclear [AN] organization). The AN-type organization of microtubules is thought to be specialized in polarized epithelial cells to facilitate vesicle trafficking between the trans-Golgi Network (TGN) and the plasma membrane. We describe two clones of MDCK cells, which have different microtubule distributions: clone II/G cells, which gradually reorganize a PN-type distribution of microtubules and the Golgi complex to an AN-type during development of polarity, and clone II/J cells which maintain a PN-type organization. Both cell clones, however, exhibit identical steady-state polarity of apical and basolateral proteins. During development of cell surface polarity, both clones rapidly establish direct targeting pathways for newly synthesized gp80 and gp135/170, and E-cadherin between the TGN and apical and basolateral membrane, respectively; this occurs before development of the AN-type microtubule/Golgi organization in clone II/G cells. Exposure of both clone II/G and II/J cells to low temperature and nocodazole disrupts >99% of microtubules, resulting in: 1) 25–50% decrease in delivery of newly synthesized gp135/170 and E-cadherin to the apical and basolateral membrane, respectively, in both clone II/G and II/J cells, but with little or no missorting to the opposite membrane domain during all stages of polarity development; 2) ∼40% decrease in delivery of newly synthesized gp80 to the apical membrane with significant missorting to the basolateral membrane in newly established cultures of clone II/G and II/J cells; and 3) variable and nonspecific delivery of newly synthesized gp80 to both membrane domains in fully polarized cultures. These results define several classes of proteins that differ in their dependence on intact microtubules for efficient and specific targeting between the Golgi and plasma membrane domains.

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Localization of Adenosine Triphosphatase Activity in the Phleom of Nicotiana Tabacum

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100094401 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 230-231

Author(s):

James Cronshaw ◽

Jamison E. Gilder

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Atpase Activity ◽

Adenosine Triphosphatase ◽

Higher Plants ◽

High Surface ◽

Root Tip ◽

Animal Cells ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Tip Cells ◽

Atpase Localization

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity has been shown to be associated with numerous physiological processes in both plants and animal cells. Biochemical studies have shown that in higher plants ATPase activity is high in cell wall preparations and is associated with the plasma membrane, nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts and lysosomes. However, there have been only a few ATPase localization studies of higher plants at the electron microscope level. Poux (1967) demonstrated ATPase activity associated with most cellular organelles in the protoderm cells of Cucumis roots. Hall (1971) has demonstrated ATPase activity in root tip cells of Zea mays. There was high surface activity largely associated with the plasma membrane and plasmodesmata. ATPase activity was also demonstrated in mitochondria, dictyosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and plastids.

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Membrane microdomains: lessons from microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100140257 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 776-777

Author(s):

J.M. Robinson ◽

J.M Oliver

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Plasma Membrane ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Plasma Membranes ◽

Cell Types ◽

Imaging Modalities ◽

Membrane Microdomains ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Lateral Heterogeneity ◽

Functional Importance

Specialized regions of plasma membranes displaying lateral heterogeneity are the focus of this Symposium. Specialized membrane domains are known for certain cell types such as differentiated epithelial cells where lateral heterogeneity in lipids and proteins exists between the apical and basolateral portions of the plasma membrane. Lateral heterogeneity and the presence of microdomains in membranes that are uniform in appearance have been more difficult to establish. Nonetheless a number of studies have provided evidence for membrane microdomains and indicated a functional importance for these structures.This symposium will focus on the use of various imaging modalities and related approaches to define membrane microdomains in a number of cell types. The importance of existing as well as emerging imaging technologies for use in the elucidation of membrane microdomains will be highlighted. The organization of membrane microdomains in terms of dimensions and spatial distribution is of considerable interest and will be addressed in this Symposium.

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