The large GTPase Mx1 binds Kif5B for cargo transport along microtubules.

A highly specific transport and sorting machinery directing secretory cargo to the apical or basolateral plasma membrane maintains the characteristic polarized architecture of epithelial cells. This machinery comprises a defined set of transport carriers, which are crucial for cargo delivery to the correct membrane domain. Each carrier is composed of a distinct set of proteins to verify precise routing and cargo selection. Among these components, the dynamin-related GTPase Mx1 was identified on post-Golgi vesicles destined for the apical membrane of MDCK cells. In addition to the presence on late secretory compartments, Mx1 was also detected on compartments of the early secretory pathway. Vesicular structures positive for this GTPase are highly dynamic, and we have studied the influence of the microtubule cytoskeleton on this motility. Live-cell microscopy indicated that microtubule disruption using nocodazole inhibits long-range trafficking of these structures. Mx1 directly or indirectly interacts with α-tubulin and the kinesin motor Kif5B as assessed by coimmunoprecipitation. In agreement with these observations knock out of Mx1 or a mutation in the unstructured L4 loop of Mx1 decreases the efficiency of apical cargo delivery. Interestingly, the L4 loop mutant still interacts with Kif5B; however, it causes vesicle elongation. This suggests that Mx1 aids in vesicle fission and stabilizes the interaction between Kif5B, microtubules and apical transport carriers.

Galectin-3 modulates the polarized surface delivery of ß1-integrin in epithelial cells.

Epithelial cells require a precise intracellular transport and sorting machinery to establish and maintain their polarized architecture. This machinery includes ß-galactoside-binding galectins for targeting of glycoprotein to the apical membrane. Galectin-3 sorts cargo destined for the apical plasma membrane into vesicular carriers. After delivery of cargo to the apical milieu, galectin-3 recycles back into sorting organelles. We analysed the role of galectin-3 in the polarized distribution of ß1-integrin in MDCK cells. Integrins are located primarily at the basolateral domain of epithelial cells. We demonstrate that a minor pool of ß1-integrin interacts with galectin-3 at the apical plasma membrane. Knockdown of galectin-3 decreases apical delivery of ß1-integrin. This loss is restored by supplementation with recombinant galectin-3 and galectin-3 overexpression. Our data suggest that galectin-3 targets newly synthesized ß1-integrin to the apical membrane and promotes apical delivery of ß1-integrin internalized from the basolateral membrane. In parallel, knockout of galectin-3 results in a reduction in cell proliferation and an impairment in proper cyst development. Our results suggest that galectin-3 modulates the surface distribution of ß1-integrin and affects the morphogenesis of polarized cells.

Molecular mechanism to recruit galectin-3 into multivesicular bodies for polarized exosomal secretion.

The beta-galactoside binding lectin galectin-3 (Gal3) is found intracellularly and in the extracellular space. Secretion of this lectin is mediated independently of the secretory pathway by a not yet defined nonclassical mechanism. Here, we found Gal3 in the lumen of exosomes. Superresolution and electron microscopy studies visualized Gal3 recruitment and sorting into intraluminal vesicles. Exosomal Gal3 release depends on the endosomal sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT-I) component Tsg101 and functional Vps4a. Either Tsg101 knockdown or expression of dominant-negative Vps4aE228Q causes an intracellular Gal3 accumulation at multivesicular body formation sites. In addition, we identified a highly conserved tetrapeptide P(S/T)AP motif in the amino terminus of Gal3 that mediates a direct interaction with Tsg101. Mutation of the P(S/T)AP motif results in a loss of interaction and a dramatic decrease in exosomal Gal3 secretion. We conclude that Gal3 is a member of endogenous non-ESCRT proteins which are P(S/T)AP tagged for exosomal release.