scholarly journals ESCargo: a regulatable fluorescent secretory cargo for diverse model organisms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason C. Casler ◽  
Allison L. Zajac ◽  
Fernando M. Valbuena ◽  
Daniela Sparvoli ◽  
Okunola Jeyifous ◽  
...  

AbstractMembrane traffic can be studied by imaging a cargo protein as it transits the secretory pathway. The best tools for this purpose initially block exit of the secretory cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and then release the block to generate a cargo wave. However, previously developed regulatable secretory cargoes are often tricky to use or specific for a single model organism. To overcome these hurdles for budding yeast, we recently optimized an artificial fluorescent secretory protein that exits the ER with the aid of the Erv29 cargo receptor, which is homologous to mammalian Surf4. The fluorescent secretory protein forms aggregates in the ER lumen and can be rapidly disaggregated by addition of a ligand to generate a nearly synchronized cargo wave. Here we term this regulatable secretory protein ESCargo (Erv29/Surf4-dependent Secretory Cargo) and demonstrate its utility not only in yeast cells, but also in cultured mammalian cells, Drosophila cells, and the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Kinetic studies indicate that rapid transport out of the ER requires recognition by Erv29/Surf4. By choosing an appropriate ER signal sequence and expression vector, this simple technology can likely be used with many model organisms.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4098-4109 ◽  
Author(s):  
K A Eakle ◽  
M Bernstein ◽  
S D Emr

SEC18 gene function is required for secretory protein transport between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi complex. We cloned the SEC18 gene by complementation of the sec18-1 mutation. Gene disruption has shown that SEC18 is essential for yeast cell growth. Sequence analysis of the gene revealed a 2,271-base-pair open reading frame which could code for a protein of 83.9 kilodaltons. The predicted protein sequence showed no significant similarity to other known protein sequences. In vitro transcription and translation of SEC18 led to the synthesis of two proteins of approximately 84 and 82 kilodaltons. Antisera raised against a Sec18-beta-galactosidase fusion protein also detected two proteins (collectively referred to as Sec18p) in extracts of 35S-labeled yeast cells identical in size to those seen by in vitro translation. Mapping of the 5' end of the SEC18 mRNA revealed only one major start site for transcription, which indicates that the multiple forms of Sec18p do not arise from mRNAs with different 5' ends. Results of pulse-chase experiments indicated that the two forms of Sec18p are not the result of posttranslational processing. We suggest that translation initiating at different in-frame AUG start codons is likely to account for the presence of two forms of Sec18p. Hydrophobicity analysis indicated that the proteins were hydrophilic in nature and lacked any region that would be predicted to serve as a signal sequence or transmembrane anchor. Although potential sites for N-linked glycosylation were present in the Sec18p sequence, the sizes of the in vivo SEC18 gene products were unaffected by the drug tunicamycin, indicating that Sec18p does not enter the secretory pathway. These results suggest that Sec18p resides in the cell cytoplasm. While preliminary cell fractionation studies showed that Sec18p is not associated with the ER or Golgi complex, association with a 100,000 x g pellet fraction was observed. This suggests that Sec18p may bind transiently to small vesicles such as those presumed to participate in secretory protein transport between ER and the Golgi complex.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4098-4109
Author(s):  
K A Eakle ◽  
M Bernstein ◽  
S D Emr

SEC18 gene function is required for secretory protein transport between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi complex. We cloned the SEC18 gene by complementation of the sec18-1 mutation. Gene disruption has shown that SEC18 is essential for yeast cell growth. Sequence analysis of the gene revealed a 2,271-base-pair open reading frame which could code for a protein of 83.9 kilodaltons. The predicted protein sequence showed no significant similarity to other known protein sequences. In vitro transcription and translation of SEC18 led to the synthesis of two proteins of approximately 84 and 82 kilodaltons. Antisera raised against a Sec18-beta-galactosidase fusion protein also detected two proteins (collectively referred to as Sec18p) in extracts of 35S-labeled yeast cells identical in size to those seen by in vitro translation. Mapping of the 5' end of the SEC18 mRNA revealed only one major start site for transcription, which indicates that the multiple forms of Sec18p do not arise from mRNAs with different 5' ends. Results of pulse-chase experiments indicated that the two forms of Sec18p are not the result of posttranslational processing. We suggest that translation initiating at different in-frame AUG start codons is likely to account for the presence of two forms of Sec18p. Hydrophobicity analysis indicated that the proteins were hydrophilic in nature and lacked any region that would be predicted to serve as a signal sequence or transmembrane anchor. Although potential sites for N-linked glycosylation were present in the Sec18p sequence, the sizes of the in vivo SEC18 gene products were unaffected by the drug tunicamycin, indicating that Sec18p does not enter the secretory pathway. These results suggest that Sec18p resides in the cell cytoplasm. While preliminary cell fractionation studies showed that Sec18p is not associated with the ER or Golgi complex, association with a 100,000 x g pellet fraction was observed. This suggests that Sec18p may bind transiently to small vesicles such as those presumed to participate in secretory protein transport between ER and the Golgi complex.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2382-2391
Author(s):  
C A Kaiser ◽  
D Botstein

Nine mutations in the signal sequence region of the gene specifying the secreted Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme invertase were constructed in vitro. The consequences of these mutations were studied after returning the mutated genes to yeast cells. Short deletions and two extensive substitution mutations allowed normal expression and secretion of invertase. Other substitution mutations and longer deletions blocked the formation of extracellular invertase. Yeast cells carrying this second class of mutant gene expressed novel active internal forms of invertase that exhibited the following properties. The new internal proteins had the mobilities in denaturing gels expected of invertase polypeptides that had retained a defective signal sequence and were otherwise unmodified. The large increase in molecular weight characteristic of glycosylation was not seen. On nondenaturing gels the mutant enzymes were found as heterodimers with a normal form of invertase that is known to be cytoplasmic, showing that the mutant forms of the enzyme are assembled in the same compartment as the cytoplasmic enzyme. All of the mutant enzymes were soluble and not associated with the membrane components after fractionation of crude cell extracts on sucrose gradients. Therefore, these signal sequence mutations result in the production of active internal invertase that has lost the ability to enter the secretory pathway. This demonstrates that the signal sequence is required for the earliest steps in membrane translocation.


Author(s):  
Erina A. Balmer ◽  
Carmen Faso

Protein secretion in eukaryotic cells is a well-studied process, which has been known for decades and is dealt with by any standard cell biology textbook. However, over the past 20 years, several studies led to the realization that protein secretion as a process might not be as uniform among different cargos as once thought. While in classic canonical secretion proteins carry a signal sequence, the secretory or surface proteome of several organisms demonstrated a lack of such signals in several secreted proteins. Other proteins were found to indeed carry a leader sequence, but simply circumvent the Golgi apparatus, which in canonical secretion is generally responsible for the modification and sorting of secretory proteins after their passage through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These alternative mechanisms of protein translocation to, or across, the plasma membrane were collectively termed “unconventional protein secretion” (UPS). To date, many research groups have studied UPS in their respective model organism of choice, with surprising reports on the proportion of unconventionally secreted proteins and their crucial roles for the cell and survival of the organism. Involved in processes such as immune responses and cell proliferation, and including far more different cargo proteins in different organisms than anyone had expected, unconventional secretion does not seem so unconventional after all. Alongside mammalian cells, much work on this topic has been done on protist parasites, including genera Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Trichomonas, Giardia, and Entamoeba. Studies on protein secretion have mainly focused on parasite-derived virulence factors as a main source of pathogenicity for hosts. Given their need to secrete a variety of substrates, which may not be compatible with canonical secretion pathways, the study of mechanisms for alternative secretion pathways is particularly interesting in protist parasites. In this review, we provide an overview on the current status of knowledge on UPS in parasitic protists preceded by a brief overview of UPS in the mammalian cell model with a focus on IL-1β and FGF-2 as paradigmatic UPS substrates.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2382-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Kaiser ◽  
D Botstein

Nine mutations in the signal sequence region of the gene specifying the secreted Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme invertase were constructed in vitro. The consequences of these mutations were studied after returning the mutated genes to yeast cells. Short deletions and two extensive substitution mutations allowed normal expression and secretion of invertase. Other substitution mutations and longer deletions blocked the formation of extracellular invertase. Yeast cells carrying this second class of mutant gene expressed novel active internal forms of invertase that exhibited the following properties. The new internal proteins had the mobilities in denaturing gels expected of invertase polypeptides that had retained a defective signal sequence and were otherwise unmodified. The large increase in molecular weight characteristic of glycosylation was not seen. On nondenaturing gels the mutant enzymes were found as heterodimers with a normal form of invertase that is known to be cytoplasmic, showing that the mutant forms of the enzyme are assembled in the same compartment as the cytoplasmic enzyme. All of the mutant enzymes were soluble and not associated with the membrane components after fractionation of crude cell extracts on sucrose gradients. Therefore, these signal sequence mutations result in the production of active internal invertase that has lost the ability to enter the secretory pathway. This demonstrates that the signal sequence is required for the earliest steps in membrane translocation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. e2021996118
Author(s):  
Justin A. Bosch ◽  
Gabriel Birchak ◽  
Norbert Perrimon

Precise genome editing is a valuable tool to study gene function in model organisms. Prime editing, a precise editing system developed in mammalian cells, does not require double-strand breaks or donor DNA and has low off-target effects. Here, we applied prime editing for the model organismDrosophila melanogasterand developed conditions for optimal editing. By expressing prime editing components in cultured cells or somatic cells of transgenic flies, we precisely introduce premature stop codons in three classical visible marker genes,ebony,white, andforked. Furthermore, by restricting editing to germ cells, we demonstrate efficient germ-line transmission of a precise edit inebonyto 36% of progeny. Our results suggest that prime editing is a useful system inDrosophilato study gene function, such as engineering precise point mutations, deletions, or epitope tags.


2008 ◽  
Vol 180 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beat Nyfeler ◽  
Veronika Reiterer ◽  
Markus W. Wendeler ◽  
Eduard Stefan ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
...  

Secretory proteins are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by bulk flow and/or receptor-mediated transport. Our understanding of this process is limited because of the low number of identified transport receptors and cognate cargo proteins. In mammalian cells, the lectin ER Golgi intermediate compartment 53-kD protein (ERGIC-53) represents the best characterized cargo receptor. It assists ER export of a subset of glycoproteins including coagulation factors V and VIII and cathepsin C and Z. Here, we report a novel screening strategy to identify protein interactions in the lumen of the secretory pathway using a yellow fluorescent protein–based protein fragment complementation assay. By screening a human liver complementary DNA library, we identify α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) as previously unrecognized cargo of ERGIC-53 and show that cargo capture is carbohydrate- and conformation-dependent. ERGIC-53 knockdown and knockout cells display a specific secretion defect of α1-AT that is corrected by reintroducing ERGIC-53. The results reveal ERGIC-53 to be an intracellular transport receptor of α1-AT and provide direct evidence for active receptor-mediated ER export of a soluble secretory protein in higher eukaryotes.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 3623-3633 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jantti ◽  
S. Keranen ◽  
J. Toikkanen ◽  
E. Kuismanen ◽  
C. Ehnholm ◽  
...  

Proteins of the syntaxin family are suggested to play a key role in determining the specificity of intracellular membrane fusion events. They belong to the class of membrane proteins which are devoid of N-terminal signal sequence and have a C-terminal membrane anchor. Sso2p is a syntaxin homologue involved in the Golgi to plasma membrane vesicular transport in yeast. The protein was transiently expressed in BHK-21 cells using the Semliki Forest virus vector, and its localization and mode of membrane insertion were studied. By immunofluorescence and immuno-EM we show that Sso2p is transported to its final location, the plasma membrane, along the biosynthetic pathway. Experiments with synchronized Sso2p synthesis or expression of the protein in the presence of brefeldin A indicate endoplasmic reticulum as the initial membrane insertion site. During a 20 degrees C temperature block Sso2p accumulated in the Golgi complex and was chased to the plasma membrane by a subsequent 37 degrees C incubation in the presence of cycloheximide. The in vitro translated protein was able to associate with dog pancreatic microsomes post-translationally. A truncated form of Sso2p lacking the putative membrane anchor was used to show that this sequence is necessary for the membrane insertion in vivo and in vitro. The results show that this syntaxin-like protein does not directly associate with its target membrane but uses the secretory pathway to reach its cellular location, raising interesting questions concerning regulation of SNARE-type protein function.


2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 4144-4150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shira D. P. Rabin ◽  
Alan R. Hauser

ABSTRACT ExoU, a protein transported by the type III secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is an important cytotoxin, though its mechanism of action is unclear. Here we show that the intracellular expression of ExoU is cytotoxic to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, internal amino- and carboxyl-terminal deletions confirmed that regions of ExoU previously shown to be essential for killing mammalian cells were also required for killing yeast cells. These findings indicate that S. cerevisiae is a useful model organism for the study of ExoU.


Author(s):  
Justin A. Bosch ◽  
Gabriel Birchak ◽  
Norbert Perrimon

AbstractPrecise genome editing is a valuable tool to study gene function in model organisms. Prime editing, a precise editing system developed in mammalian cells, does not require double strand breaks or donor DNA and has low off-target effects. Here, we applied prime editing for the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and developed conditions for optimal editing. By expressing prime editing components in cultured cells or somatic cells of transgenic flies, we precisely installed premature stop codons in three classical visible marker genes, ebony, white, and forked. Furthermore, by restricting editing to germ cells, we demonstrate efficient germ line transmission of a precise edit in ebony to ~50% of progeny. Our results suggest that prime editing is a useful system in Drosophila to study gene function, such as engineering precise point mutations, deletions, or epitope tags.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document