MAP1B-LC1 prevents autophagosome formation by linking syntaxin 17 to microtubules.

In fed cells, syntaxin 17 (Stx17) is associated with microtubules at the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria interface and promotes mitochondrial fission by determining the localization and function of the mitochondrial fission factor Drp1. Upon starvation, Stx17 dissociates from microtubules and Drp1, and binds to Atg14L, a subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex, to facilitate phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate production and thereby autophagosome formation, but the mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown. Here we identify MAP1B-LC1 (microtubule-associated protein 1B-light chain 1) as a critical regulator of Stx17 function. Depletion of MAP1B-LC1 causes Stx17-dependent autophagosome accumulation even under nutrient-rich conditions, whereas its overexpression blocks starvation-induced autophagosome formation. MAP1B-LC1 links microtubules and Stx17 in fed cells, and starvation causes the dephosphorylation of MAP1B-LC1 at Thr217, allowing Stx17 to dissociate from MAP1B-LC1 and bind to Atg14L. Our results reveal the mechanism by which Stx17 changes its binding partners in response to nutrient status.

Cross-presentation of glycolipid from tumor cells loaded with alpha-galactosylceramide leads to potent and long-lived T cell mediated immunity via dendritic cells.

We report a mechanism to induce combined and long-lived CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell immunity to several mouse tumors. Surprisingly, the initial source of antigen is a single low dose of tumor cells loaded with alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) glycolipid (tumor/Gal) but lacking co-stimulatory molecules. After tumor/Gal injection intravenously (i.v.), innate NKT and NK cells reject the tumor cells, some of which are taken up by dendritic cells (DCs). The DCs in turn cross-present glycolipid on CD1d molecules to NKT cells and undergo maturation. For B16 melanoma cells loaded with alpha-GalCer (B16/Gal), interferon gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells develop toward several melanoma peptides, again after a single low i.v. dose of B16/Gal. In all four poorly immunogenic tumors tested, a single dose of tumor/Gal i.v. allows mice to become resistant to tumors given subcutaneously. Resistance requires CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, as well as DCs, and persists for 6-12 mo. Therefore, several immunogenic features of DCs are engaged by the CD1d-mediated cross-presentation of glycolipid-loaded tumor cells, leading to particularly strong and long-lived adaptive immunity.