Yeast Exocytic v-SNAREs Confer Endocytosis

In yeast, homologues of the synaptobrevin/VAMP family of v-SNAREs (Snc1 and Snc2) confer the docking and fusion of secretory vesicles at the cell surface. As no v-SNARE has been shown to confer endocytosis, we examined whether yeast lacking the SNC genes, or possessing a temperature-sensitive allele of SNC1(SNC1ala43), are deficient in the endocytic uptake of components from the cell surface. We found that bothSNC and temperature-shiftedSNC1ala43yeast are deficient in their ability to deliver the soluble dye FM4–64 to the vacuole. Under conditions in which vesicles accumulate, FM4–64 stained primarily the cytoplasm as well as fragmented vacuoles. In addition, α-factor–stimulated endocytosis of the α-factor receptor, Ste2, was fully blocked, as evidenced using a Ste2-green fluorescent protein fusion protein as well as metabolic labeling studies. This suggests a direct role for Snc v-SNAREs in the retrieval of membrane proteins from the cell surface. Moreover, this idea is supported by genetic and physical data that demonstrate functional interactions with t-SNAREs that confer endosomal transport (e.g., Tlg1,2). Notably, Snc1ala43was found to be nonfunctional in cells lacking Tlg1 or Tlg2. Thus, we propose that synaptobrevin/VAMP family members are engaged in anterograde and retrograde protein sorting steps between the Golgi and the plasma membrane.