scholarly journals The N-terminal Domain of the t-SNARE Vam3p Coordinates Priming and Docking in Yeast Vacuole Fusion

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3375-3385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rico Laage ◽  
Christian Ungermann
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Truncated Protein ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Vacuole Fusion ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Hops Complex

Homotypic fusion of yeast vacuoles requires a regulated sequence of events. During priming, Sec18p disassembles cis-SNARE complexes. The HOPS complex, which is initially associated with thecis-SNARE complex, then mediates tethering. Finally, SNAREs assemble into trans-complexes before the membranes fuse. The t-SNARE of the vacuole, Vam3p, plays a central role in the coordination of these processes. We deleted the N-terminal region of Vam3p to analyze the role of this domain in membrane fusion. The truncated protein (Vam3ΔN) is sorted normally to the vacuole and is functional, because the vacuolar morphology is unaltered in this strain. However, in vitro vacuole fusion is strongly reduced due to the following reasons: Assembly, as well as disassembly of thecis-SNARE complex is more efficient on Vam3ΔN vacuoles; however, the HOPS complex is not associated well with the Vam3ΔN cis-complex. Thus, primed SNAREs from Vam3ΔN vacuoles cannot participate efficiently in the reaction becausetrans-SNARE pairing is substantially reduced. We conclude that the N-terminus of Vam3p is required for coordination of priming and docking during homotypic vacuole fusion.

scholarly journals Sec1p directly stimulates SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in vitro

2004 ◽  
Vol 167 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenton L. Scott ◽  
Jeffrey S. Van Komen ◽  
Hassan Irshad ◽  
Song Liu ◽  
Kirilee A. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Bud Neck ◽  
Precise Role

Sec1 proteins are critical players in membrane trafficking, yet their precise role remains unknown. We have examined the role of Sec1p in the regulation of post-Golgi secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Indirect immunofluorescence shows that endogenous Sec1p is found primarily at the bud neck in newly budded cells and in patches broadly distributed within the plasma membrane in unbudded cells. Recombinant Sec1p binds strongly to the t-SNARE complex (Sso1p/Sec9c) as well as to the fully assembled ternary SNARE complex (Sso1p/Sec9c;Snc2p), but also binds weakly to free Sso1p. We used recombinant Sec1p to test Sec1p function using a well-characterized SNARE-mediated membrane fusion assay. The addition of Sec1p to a traditional in vitro fusion assay moderately stimulates fusion; however, when Sec1p is allowed to bind to SNAREs before reconstitution, significantly more Sec1p binding is detected and fusion is stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner. These data strongly argue that Sec1p directly stimulates SNARE-mediated membrane fusion.

scholarly journals Membrane lysis during biological membrane fusion: collateral damage by misregulated fusion machines

2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Engel ◽  
Peter Walter
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Biological Membrane ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Mechanistic Models ◽  
Collateral Damage ◽  
Vacuole Fusion ◽  
Membrane Lysis

In the canonical model of membrane fusion, the integrity of the fusing membranes is never compromised, preserving the identity of fusing compartments. However, recent molecular simulations provided evidence for a pathway to fusion in which holes in the membrane evolve into a fusion pore. Additionally, two biological membrane fusion models—yeast cell mating and in vitro vacuole fusion—have shown that modifying the composition or altering the relative expression levels of membrane fusion complexes can result in membrane lysis. The convergence of these findings showing membrane integrity loss during biological membrane fusion suggests new mechanistic models for membrane fusion and the role of membrane fusion complexes.

Binding of UNC-18 to the N-terminus of syntaxin is essential for neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans

2009 ◽  
Vol 418 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Johnson ◽  
Pawel Ferdek ◽  
Lu-Yun Lian ◽  
Jeff W. Barclay ◽  
Robert D. Burgoyne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Sm Proteins ◽  
Closed Conformation ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
N Terminus

SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptors) are widely accepted to drive all intracellular membrane fusion events. SM (Sec1/Munc18-like) proteins bind to SNAREs and this interaction may underlie their ubiquitous requirement for efficient membrane fusion. SM proteins bind to SNAREs in at least three modes: (i) to a closed conformation of syntaxin; (ii) to the syntaxin N-terminus; and (iii) to the assembled SNARE complex. Munc18-1 exhibits all three binding modes and recent in vitro reconstitution assays suggest that its interaction with the syntaxin N-terminus is essential for neuronal SNARE complex binding and efficient membrane fusion. To investigate the physiological relevance of these binding modes, we studied the UNC-18/UNC-64 SM/SNARE pair, which is essential for neuronal exocytosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in the N-terminus of UNC-64 strongly inhibited binding to UNC-18, as did mutations targeting closed conformation binding. Complementary mutations in UNC-18 designed to selectively impair binding to either closed syntaxin or its N-terminus produced a similarly strong inhibition of UNC-64 binding. Therefore high-affinity UNC18/UNC-64 interaction in vitro involves both binding modes. To determine the physiological relevance of each mode, unc-18-null mutant worms were transformed with wild-type or mutant unc-18 constructs. The UNC-18(R39C) construct, that is defective in closed syntaxin binding, fully rescued the locomotion defects of the unc-18 mutant. In contrast, the UNC-18(F113R) construct, that is defective in binding to the N-terminus of UNC-64, provided no rescue. These results suggest that binding of UNC-18 to closed syntaxin is dispensable for membrane fusion, whereas interaction with the syntaxin N-terminus is essential for neuronal exocytosis in vivo.

scholarly journals A conserved regulatory mode in exocytic membrane fusion revealed by Mso1p membrane interactions

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Weber-Boyvat ◽  
Hongxia Zhao ◽  
Nina Aro ◽  
Qiang Yuan ◽  
Konstantin Chernov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Lipid Binding ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Membrane Interactions ◽  
Complex Assembly ◽  
Ptb Domain

Sec1/Munc18 family proteins are important components of soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex–mediated membrane fusion processes. However, the molecular interactions and the mechanisms involved in Sec1p/Munc18 control and SNARE complex assembly are not well understood. We provide evidence that Mso1p, a Sec1p- and Sec4p-binding protein, interacts with membranes to regulate membrane fusion. We identify two membrane-binding sites on Mso1p. The N-terminal region inserts into the lipid bilayer and appears to interact with the plasma membrane, whereas the C-terminal region of the protein binds phospholipids mainly through electrostatic interactions and may associate with secretory vesicles. The Mso1p membrane interactions are essential for correct subcellular localization of Mso1p–Sec1p complexes and for membrane fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These characteristics are conserved in the phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain of β-amyloid precursor protein–binding Mint1, the mammalian homologue of Mso1p. Both Mint1 PTB domain and Mso1p induce vesicle aggregation/clustering in vitro, supporting a role in a membrane-associated process. The results identify Mso1p as a novel lipid-interacting protein in the SNARE complex assembly machinery. Furthermore, our data suggest that a general mode of interaction, consisting of a lipid-binding protein, a Rab family GTPase, and a Sec1/Munc18 family protein, is important in all SNARE-mediated membrane fusion events.

scholarly journals RNA Helicase A Regulates the Replication of RNA Viruses

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
Rui-Zhu Shi ◽  
Yuan-Qing Pan ◽  
Li Xing
Keyword(s):  
Virus Replication ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Rna Helicase ◽  
Rna Helicase A ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
N Terminus

The RNA helicase A (RHA) is a member of DExH-box helicases and characterized by two double-stranded RNA binding domains at the N-terminus. RHA unwinds double-stranded RNA in vitro and is involved in RNA metabolisms in the cell. RHA is also hijacked by a variety of RNA viruses to facilitate virus replication. Herein, this review will provide an overview of the role of RHA in the replication of RNA viruses.

scholarly journals Dissociation of the Tubulin-sequestering and Microtubule Catastrophe-promoting Activities of Oncoprotein 18/Stathmin

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Howell ◽  
Niklas Larsson ◽  
Martin Gullberg ◽  
Lynne Cassimeris
Keyword(s):  
Tight Binding ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Gtp Hydrolysis ◽  
Truncated Protein ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Dependent Change ◽  
Tubulin Subunit ◽  
Oncoprotein 18

Oncoprotein 18/stathmin (Op18) has been identified recently as a protein that destabilizes microtubules, but the mechanism of destabilization is currently controversial. Based on in vitro microtubule assembly assays, evidence has been presented supporting conflicting destabilization models of either tubulin sequestration or promotion of microtubule catastrophes. We found that Op18 can destabilize microtubules by both of these mechanisms and that these activities can be dissociated by changing pH. At pH 6.8, Op18 slowed microtubule elongation and increased catastrophes at both plus and minus ends, consistent with a tubulin-sequestering activity. In contrast, at pH 7.5, Op18 promoted microtubule catastrophes, particularly at plus ends, with little effect on elongation rates at either microtubule end. Dissociation of tubulin-sequestering and catastrophe-promoting activities of Op18 was further demonstrated by analysis of truncated Op18 derivatives. Lack of a C-terminal region of Op18 (aa 100–147) resulted in a truncated protein that lost sequestering activity at pH 6.8 but retained catastrophe-promoting activity. In contrast, lack of an N-terminal region of Op18 (aa 5–25) resulted in a truncated protein that still sequestered tubulin at pH 6.8 but was unable to promote catastrophes at pH 7.5. At pH 6.8, both the full length and the N-terminal–truncated Op18 bound tubulin, whereas truncation at the C-terminus resulted in a pronounced decrease in tubulin binding. Based on these results, and a previous study documenting a pH-dependent change in binding affinity between Op18 and tubulin, it is likely that tubulin sequestering observed at lower pH resulted from the relatively tight interaction between Op18 and tubulin and that this tight binding requires the C-terminus of Op18; however, under conditions in which Op18 binds weakly to tubulin (pH 7.5), Op18 stimulated catastrophes without altering tubulin subunit association or dissociation rates, and Op18 did not depolymerize microtubules capped with guanylyl (α, β)-methylene diphosphonate–tubulin subunits. We hypothesize that weak binding between Op18 and tubulin results in free Op18, which is available to interact with microtubule ends and thereby promote catastrophes by a mechanism that likely involves GTP hydrolysis.

Mimicking cotranslational folding of prosubtilisin E in vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 167 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Gun Kim ◽  
Yu-Jen Chen ◽  
Liliana Falzon ◽  
Jean Baum ◽  
Masayori Inouye
Keyword(s):  
Crucial Role ◽  
Tertiary Structure ◽  
Molten Globule ◽  
Secondary Structures ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Folding Intermediates ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Cotranslational Folding ◽  
N Terminus

Abstract Nascent polypeptides are synthesized on ribosomes starting at the N-terminus and simultaneously begin to fold during translation. We constructed N-terminal fragments of prosubtilisin E containing an intramolecular chaperone (IMC) at N-terminus to mimic cotranslational folding intermediates of prosubtilisin. The IMC-fragments of prosubtilisin exhibited progressive enhancement of their secondary structures and thermostabilities with increasing polypeptide length. However, even the largest IMC-fragment with 72 residues truncated from the C-terminus behaved as a molten globule, indicating the requirement of the C-terminal region to have a stable tertiary structure. Furthermore, truncation of the IMC in the IMC-fragments resulted in aggregation, suggesting that the IMC plays a crucial role to prevent misfolding and aggregation of cotranslational folding intermediates during translation of prosubtilisin polypeptide.

scholarly journals The N-Terminus ofDictyosteliumScar Interacts with Abi and HSPC300 and Is Essential for Proper Regulation and Function

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1609-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Caracino ◽  
Cheryl Jones ◽  
Mark Compton ◽  
Charles L. Saxe
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Large Molecular Weight ◽  
Weight Protein ◽  
And Function ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

Scar/WAVE proteins, members of the conserved Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) family, promote actin polymerization by activating the Arp2/3 complex. A number of proteins, including a complex containing Nap1, PIR121, Abi1/2, and HSPC300, interact with Scar/WAVE, though the role of this complex in regulating Scar function remains unclear. Here we identify a short N-terminal region of Dictyostelium Scar that is necessary and sufficient for interaction with HSPC300 and Abi in vitro. Cells expressing Scar lacking this N-terminal region show abnormalities in F-actin distribution, cell morphology, movement, and cytokinesis. This is true even in the presence of wild-type Scar. The data suggest that the first 96 amino acids of Scar are necessary for participation in a large-molecular-weight protein complex, and that this Scar-containing complex is responsible for the proper localization and regulation of Scar. The presence of mis-regulated or unregulated Scar has significant deleterious effects on cells and may explain the need to keep Scar activity tightly controlled in vivo either by assembly in a complex or by rapid degradation.

scholarly journals Vps41 Phosphorylation and the Rab Ypt7 Control the Targeting of the HOPS Complex to Endosome–Vacuole Fusion Sites

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1937-1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Cabrera ◽  
Clemens W. Ostrowicz ◽  
Muriel Mari ◽  
Tracy J. LaGrassa ◽  
Fulvio Reggiori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Casein Kinase ◽  
Vacuole Fusion ◽  
Fusion Defect ◽  
Fusion Site ◽  
Vacuole Biogenesis ◽  
Hops Complex

Membrane fusion depends on multisubunit tethering factors such as the vacuolar HOPS complex. We previously showed that the vacuolar casein kinase Yck3 regulates vacuole biogenesis via phosphorylation of the HOPS subunit Vps41. Here, we link the identified Vps41 phosphorylation site to HOPS function at the endosome–vacuole fusion site. The nonphosphorylated Vps41 mutant (Vps41 S-A) accumulates together with other HOPS subunits on punctate structures proximal to the vacuole that expand in a class E mutant background and that correspond to in vivo fusion sites. Ultrastructural analysis of this mutant confirmed the presence of tubular endosomal structures close to the vacuole. In contrast, Vps41 with a phosphomimetic mutation (Vps41 S-D) is mislocalized and leads to multilobed vacuoles, indicative of a fusion defect. These two phenotypes can be rescued by overproduction of the vacuolar Rab Ypt7, revealing that both Ypt7 and Yck3-mediated phosphorylation modulate the Vps41 localization to the endosome–vacuole junction. Our data suggest that Vps41 phosphorylation fine-tunes the organization of vacuole fusion sites and provide evidence for a fusion “hot spot” on the vacuole limiting membrane.

scholarly journals Reconciling the regulatory role of Munc18 proteins in SNARE-complex assembly

IUCrJ ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma Rehman ◽  
Julia K. Archbold ◽  
Shu-Hong Hu ◽  
Suzanne J. Norwood ◽  
Brett M. Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Blood Glucose Control ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Snare Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Role ◽  
Sm Proteins ◽  
Protein Receptor

Membrane fusion is essential for human health, playing a vital role in processes as diverse as neurotransmission and blood glucose control. Two protein families are key: (1) the Sec1p/Munc18 (SM) and (2) the solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins. Whilst the essential nature of these proteins is irrefutable, their exact regulatory roles in membrane fusion remain controversial. In particular, whether SM proteins promote and/or inhibit the SNARE-complex formation required for membrane fusion is not resolved. Crystal structures of SM proteins alone and in complex with their cognate SNARE proteins have provided some insight, however, these structures lack the transmembrane spanning regions of the SNARE proteins and may not accurately reflect the native state. Here, we review the literature surrounding the regulatory role of mammalian Munc18 SM proteins required for exocytosis in eukaryotes. Our analysis suggests that the conflicting roles reported for these SM proteins may reflect differences in experimental design. SNARE proteins appear to require C-terminal immobilization or anchoring, for example through a transmembrane domain, to form a functional fusion complex in the presence of Munc18 proteins.

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