In Vivo Visualization of Moving Synaptic Cargo Complexes within Drosophila Larval Segmental Axons.

Identifying moving synaptic vesicle complexes and isolating specific proteins present within such complexes in vivo is challenging. Here we detail a protocol that we have developed that is designed to simultaneously visualize the axonal transport of two fluorescently tagged synaptic vesicle proteins in living Drosophila larval segmental nerves in real time. Using a beam-splitter and split view software, larvae expressing GFP-tagged Synaptobrevin (Syb) and mRFP-tagged Rab4-GTPase or YFP-tagged Amyloid Precursor protein (APP) and mRFP-tagged Rab4-GTPase are imaged simultaneously using separate wavelengths. Merged kymographs from the two wavelengths are evaluated for colocalization analysis. Vesicle velocity analysis can also be done. Such analysis enables us to visualize the motility behaviors of two synaptic proteins present on a single vesicle complex and identify candidate proteins moving on synaptic vesicles in vivo, under physiological conditions.

Tomosyn Negatively Regulates Arginine Vasopressin Secretion in Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neurons.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is secreted via exocytosis; however, the precise molecular mechanism underlying the exocytosis of AVP remains to be elucidated. To better understand the mechanisms of AVP secretion, in our study we have identified proteins that bind with a 25 kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP25). SNAP25 plays a crucial role in exocytosis, in the posterior pituitary. Embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived AVP neurons were established to investigate the functions of the identified proteins. Using glutathione S-transferase (GST)-pulldown assays and proteomic analyses, we identified tomosyn-1 (syntaxin-binding protein 5) as a SNAP25-binding protein in the posterior pituitary. Coimmunoprecipitation assays indicated that tomosyn formed N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes with SNAP25 and syntaxin1. Immunohistochemistry showed that tomosyn localized to the posterior pituitary. Mouse ES cells self-differentiated into AVP neurons (mES-AVP) that expressed tomosyn and two transmembrane SNARE proteins, including SNAP25 and syntaxin1. KCl increased AVP secretion in mES-AVP, and overexpression of tomosyn-1 reduced KCl-stimulated AVP secretion. Downregulation of tomosyn-1 with siRNA increased KCl-stimulated AVP secretion. These results suggested that tomosyn-1 negatively regulated AVP secretion in mES-AVP and further suggest the possibility of using mES-AVP culture systems to evaluate the role of synaptic proteins from AVP neurons.

The COG complex interacts directly with Syntaxin 6 and positively regulates endosome-to-TGN retrograde transport.

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex has been implicated in the regulation of endosome to trans-Golgi network (TGN) retrograde trafficking in both yeast and mammals. However, the exact mechanisms by which it regulates this transport route remain largely unknown. In this paper, we show that COG interacts directly with the target membrane SNARE (t-SNARE) Syntaxin 6 via the Cog6 subunit. In Cog6-depleted cells, the steady-state level of Syntaxin 6 was markedly reduced, and concomitantly, endosome-to-TGN retrograde traffic was significantly attenuated. Cog6 knockdown also affected the steady-state levels and/or subcellular distributions of Syntaxin 16, Vti1a, and VAMP4 and impaired the assembly of the Syntaxin 6-Syntaxin16-Vti1a-VAMP4 SNARE complex. Remarkably, overexpression of VAMP4, but not of Syntaxin 6, bypassed the requirement for COG and restored endosome-to-TGN trafficking in Cog6-depleted cells. These results suggest that COG directly interacts with specific t-SNAREs and positively regulates SNARE complex assembly, thereby affecting their associated trafficking steps.

Synaptic vesicles studied by dynamic light scattering.

The size polydispersity distribution of synaptic vesicles (SVs) is characterized under quasi-physiological conditions by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Highly purified fractions of SVs obtained from rat brain still contain a small amount of larger contaminant structures, which can be quantified by DLS and further reduced by asymmetric-flow field-flow (AFFF) fractionation. The intensity autocorrelation functions g (2)(τ) recorded from these samples are analyzed by a constrained regularization method as well as by an alternative direct modeling approach. The results are in quantitative agreement with the polydispersity obtained from cryogenic electron microscopy of vitrified SVs. Next, different vesicle fusion assays based on samples composed of SVs and small unilamellar proteoliposomes with the fusion proteins syntaxin 1 and SNAP-25A are characterized by DLS. The size increase of the proteoliposomes due to SNARE-dependent fusion with SVs is quantified by DLS under quasi-physiological conditions.

Alternative splicing of the human gene SYBL1 modulates protein domain architecture of Longin VAMP7/TI-VAMP, showing both non-SNARE and synaptobrevin-like isoforms.

BACKGROUND: The control of intracellular vesicle trafficking is an ideal target to weigh the role of alternative splicing in shaping genomes to make cells. Alternative splicing has been reported for several Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment protein REceptors of the vesicle (v-SNAREs) or of the target membrane (t-SNARES), which are crucial to intracellular membrane fusion and protein and lipid traffic in Eukaryotes. However, splicing has not yet been investigated in Longins, i.e. the most widespread v-SNAREs. Longins are essential in Eukaryotes and prototyped by VAMP7, Sec22b and Ykt6, sharing a conserved N-terminal Longin domain which regulates membrane fusion and subcellular targeting. Human VAMP7/TI-VAMP, encoded by gene SYBL1, is involved in multiple cell pathways, including control of neurite outgrowth. RESULTS: Alternative splicing of SYBL1 by exon skipping events results in the production of a number of VAMP7 isoforms. In-frame or frameshift coding sequence modifications modulate domain architecture of VAMP7 isoforms, which can lack whole domains or domain fragments and show variant or extra domains. Intriguingly, two main types of VAMP7 isoforms either share the inhibitory Longin domain and lack the fusion-promoting SNARE motif, or vice versa. Expression analysis in different tissues and cell lines, quantitative real time RT-PCR and confocal microscopy analysis of fluorescent protein-tagged isoforms demonstrate that VAMP7 variants have different tissue specificities and subcellular localizations. Moreover, design and use of isoform-specific antibodies provided preliminary evidence for the existence of splice variants at the protein level. CONCLUSIONS: Previous evidence on VAMP7 suggests inhibitory functions for the Longin domain and fusion/growth promoting activity for the Δ-longin molecule. Thus, non-SNARE isoforms with Longin domain and non-longin SNARE isoforms might have somehow opposite regulatory functions. When considering splice variants as "natural mutants", evidence on modulation of subcellular localization by variation in domain combination can shed further light on targeting determinants. Although further work will be needed to characterize identified variants, our data might open the route to unravel novel molecular partners and mechanisms, accounting for the multiplicity of functions carried out by the different members of the Longin proteins family.

Arabidopsis SNARE protein SEC22 is essential for gametophyte development and maintenance of Golgi-stack integrity.

Membrane traffic contributes to plant growth and development. However, the functional significance of SNARE proteins involved in membrane fusion of the early secretory pathway has not been explored with respect to plant development. Here we analyze the Arabidopsis v-SNARE SEC22. Loss of SEC22 function impairs gametophyte development, as indicated by reciprocal crosses between wild-type plants and plants heterozygous for T-DNA insertions in the SEC22 gene. sec22 mutant pollen becomes abnormal during the bicellular stage, eventually giving rise to degenerated pollen grains. Most mutant embryo sacs fail to support embryogenesis and display unfused polar nuclei in their central cell. Immunolocalization by both light and electron microscopy revealed an association of mutant-complementing Myc-tagged SEC22 with the central and peripheral endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Ultrastructural analysis of developing sec22 mutant pollen demonstrated Golgi fragmentation and consumption. As a consequence, the plasma membrane-targeted syntaxin SYP124 was retained in the ER. Our results suggest that SEC22 plays an essential role in early secretory traffic between the ER and the Golgi.

Leishmania parasitophorous vacuoles interact continuously with the host cell's endoplasmic reticulum; parasitophorous vacuoles are hybrid compartments.

Macrophages that express representative endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecules tagged with green fluorescence protein were generated to assess the recruitment of ER molecules to Leishmania parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs). More than 90% of PVs harbouring Leishmania pifanoi or Leishmania donovani parasites recruited calnexin, to their PV membrane. An equivalent proportion of PVs also recruited the membrane-associated soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), Sec22b. Both ER molecules appeared to be recruited very early in the formation of nascent PVs. Electron microscopy analysis of infected Sec22b/YFP expressing cells confirmed that Sec22b was recruited to Leishmania PVs. In contrast to PVs, it was found that no more than 20% of phagosomes that harboured Zymosan particles recruited calnexin or Sec22b to their limiting phagosomal membrane. The retrograde pathway that ricin employs to access the cell cytosol was exploited to gain further insight into ER-PV interactions. Ricin was delivered to PVs in infected cells incubated with ricin. Incubation of cells with brefeldin A blocked the transfer of ricin to PVs. This implied that molecules that traffic to the ER are transferred to PVs. Moreover the results show that PVs are hybrid compartments that are composed of both host ER and endocytic pathway components.

Distinct subcellular localization of a group of synaptobrevin-like SNAREs in Paramecium tetraurelia and effects of silencing SNARE-specific chaperone NSF.

We have identified new synaptobrevin-like SNAREs and localized the corresponding gene products with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fusion constructs and specific antibodies at the light and electron microscope (EM) levels. These SNAREs, named Paramecium tetraurelia synaptobrevins 8 to 12 (PtSyb8 to PtSyb12), showed mostly very restricted, specific localization, as they were found predominantly on structures involved in endo- or phagocytosis. In summary, we found PtSyb8 and PtSyb9 associated with the nascent food vacuole, PtSyb10 near the cell surface, at the cytostome, and in close association with ciliary basal bodies, and PtSyb11 on early endosomes and on one side of the cytostome, while PtSyb12 was found in the cytosol. PtSyb4 and PtSyb5 (identified previously) were localized on small vesicles, PtSyb5 probably being engaged in trichocyst (dense core secretory vesicle) processing. PtSyb4 and PtSyb5 are related to each other and are the furthest deviating of all SNAREs identified so far. Because they show no similarity with any other R-SNAREs outside ciliates, they may represent a ciliate-specific adaptation. PtSyb10 forms small domains near ciliary bases, and silencing slows down cell rotation during depolarization-induced ciliary reversal. NSF silencing supports a function of cell surface SNAREs by revealing vesicles along the cell membrane at sites normally devoid of vesicles. The distinct distributions of these SNAREs emphasize the considerable differentiation of membrane trafficking, particularly along the endo-/phagocytic pathway, in this protozoan.

Selective reduction in synaptic proteins involved in vesicle docking and signalling at synapses in the ataxic mutant mouse stargazer.

The spontaneous recessive mutant mouse stargazer has a specific and pronounced deficit in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in the cerebellum. Cerebellar granule cells, in particular, show a selective and near-total loss of BDNF. The mutation involves a defect in the calcium channel subunit Cacng2. This severely reduces expression of stargazin. A stargazin-induced failure in BDNF expression is thought to underlie the cerebellar ataxia with which the mutant presents. BDNF is known to regulate plasticity at cerebellar synapses. However, relatively little is known about the mechanism involved. We previously demonstrated that the stargazer mutation affects the phenotype of cerebellar glutamatergic neurons. Stargazer neurons have less glutamate and proportionally fewer docked vesicles at presynaptic sites than controls. In the current study, we investigate the mechanism underlying BDNF-induced synaptic changes by analyzing alterations in synaptic signalling proteins in the stargazer cerebellum. Expression levels of synaptic proteins were evaluated by measuring relative density of immunogold label over granule cell terminals in ultrathin sections from ataxic stargazer mutants compared with matched nonataxic littermates. We show that there is a selective and marked depletion in the levels of vesicle-associated proteins (synaptobrevin, synaptophysin, synaptotagmin, and Rab3a) but not of plasma membrane-associated protein (SNAP-25) in the terminals of the BDNF-deficient granule cells. Changes are restricted to the cerebellum; levels in the hippocampus are unaltered. These data suggest that the BDNF deficits in the cerebellum of stargazer affect synaptic vesicle docking by selectively altering synaptic-protein distribution and abundance.

Organelle proteomics: identification of the exocytic machinery associated with the natural killer cell secretory lysosome.

Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes eliminate virally infected and transformed cells. Target cell killing is mediated by the regulated exocytosis of secretory lysosomes, which deliver perforin and proapoptotic granzymes to the infected or transformed cell. Yet despite the central role that secretory lysosome exocytosis plays in the immune response to viruses and tumors, little is known about the molecular machinery that regulates the docking and fusion of this organelle with the plasma membrane. To identify potential components of this exocytic machinery we used proteomics to define the protein composition of the NK cell secretory lysosome membrane. Secretory lysosomes were isolated from the NK cell line YTS by subcellular fractionation, integral membrane proteins and membrane-associated proteins were enriched using Triton X-114 and separated by SDS-PAGE, and tryptic peptides were identified by LC ESI-MS/MS. In total 221 proteins were identified unambiguously in the secretory lysosome membrane fraction of which 61% were predicted to be either integral membrane proteins or membrane-associated proteins. A significant proportion of the proteins identified play a role in vesicular trafficking, including members of both the Rab GTPase and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) and protein families. These proteins include Rab27a and the SNARE vesicle-associated membrane protein-7, both of which were enriched in the secretory lysosome fraction and represent potential components of the machinery that regulates the exocytosis of this organelle in NK cells.

Four-dimensional imaging of filter-grown polarized epithelial cells.

Understanding how epithelial cells generate and maintain polarity and function requires live cell imaging. In order for cells to become fully polarized, it is necessary to grow them on a permeable membrane filter; however, the translucent filter obstructs the microscope light path required for quantitative live cell imaging. Alternatively, the membrane filter may be excised but this eliminates selective access to apical and basolateral surfaces. Conversely, epithelial cells cultured directly on glass exhibit different phenotypes and functions from filter grown cells. Here, we describe a new method for culturing polarized epithelial cells on a Transwell filter insert that allows superior live cell imaging with spatial and temporal image resolution previously unachievable using conventional methods. Cells were cultured on the underside of a filter support. Epithelial cells grown in this inverted configuration exhibit a fully polarized architecture, including the presence of functional tight junctions. This new culturing system permits four-dimensional (three spatial dimension over time) imaging of endosome and Golgi apparatus dynamics, and permits selective manipulation of the apical and basolateral surfaces. This new technique has wide applicability for visualization and manipulation of polarized epithelial cells.

Harboring of particulate allergens within secretory compartments by mast cells following IgE/FcepsilonRI-lipid raft-mediated phagocytosis.

Although much is known regarding the exocytic responses of mast cells following allergen/IgE-mediated activation, little is currently known of the fate of the activating allergens, many of which are particles. We have found that IgE-bound particulate allergens were phagocytosed by activated mast cells in a lipid raft-dependent manner. The nascent allergen-containing phagosomes were found to transform into granule compartments by acquiring VAMP7 and serotonin and exhibited the capacity to empty their contents upon mast cell activation. When allergen-harboring mast cells were stimulated, the intracellular allergens were expelled intact and shown to activate adjacent mast cells. This capacity of mast cells to phagocytose and retain whole and antigenically intact allergens could potentially contribute to the course of inflammatory diseases such as asthma.

Plasma membrane polarization during mating in yeast cells.

The yeast mating cell provides a simple paradigm for analyzing mechanisms underlying the generation of surface polarity. Endocytic recycling and slow diffusion on the plasma membrane were shown to facilitate polarized surface distribution of Snc1p (Valdez-Taubas, J., and H.R. Pelham. 2003. Curr. Biol. 13:1636-1640). Here, we found that polarization of Fus1p, a raft-associated type I transmembrane protein involved in cell fusion, does not depend on endocytosis. Instead, Fus1p localization to the tip of the mating projection was determined by its cytosolic domain, which binds to peripheral proteins involved in mating tip polarization. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the lipid bilayer at the mating projection is more condensed than the plasma membrane enclosing the cell body, and that sphingolipids are required for this lipid organization.

Tomosyn is expressed in beta-cells and negatively regulates insulin exocytosis.

Tomosyn, a syntaxin-binding protein, is capable of dissociating mammalian homolog of the Caenorhabditis elegans unc-18 gene from syntaxin and is involved in the regulation of exocytosis. We have investigated the expression, cellular localization, and functional role of tomosyn in pancreatic beta-cells. Western blotting revealed a 130-kDa protein corresponding to tomosyn in insulin-secreting beta-cell lines. RT-PCR amplification showed that b-, m-, and s-tomosyn isoform mRNAs are expressed in beta-cell lines and rat pancreatic islets. Immunohistochemistry revealed punctate tomosyn immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of insulin-, glucagon-, pancreatic polypeptide-, and somatostatin-containing islet cells. Syntaxin 1 coimmunoprecipitated with tomosyn in extracts of insulin-secreting cells. Overexpression of m-tomosyn in mouse beta-cells significantly decreased exocytosis, whereas inhibition of tomosyn expression by small interfering RNA increased exocytosis. Hence, in the pancreatic beta-cell, tomosyn negatively regulates insulin exocytosis.

The Gcs1 Arf-GAP mediates Snc1,2 v-SNARE retrieval to the Golgi in yeast.

Gcs1 is an Arf GTPase-activating protein (Arf-GAP) that mediates Golgi-ER and post-Golgi vesicle transport in yeast. Here we show that the Snc1,2 v-SNAREs, which mediate endocytosis and exocytosis, interact physically and genetically with Gcs1. Moreover, Gcs1 and the Snc v-SNAREs colocalize to subcellular structures that correspond to the trans-Golgi and endosomal compartments. Studies performed in vitro demonstrate that the Snc-Gcs1 interaction results in the efficient binding of recombinant Arf1Delta17N-Q71L to the v-SNARE and the recruitment of purified coatomer. In contrast, the presence of Snc had no effect on Gcs1 Arf-GAP activity in vitro, suggesting that v-SNARE binding does not attenuate Arf1 function. Disruption of both the SNC and GCS1 genes results in synthetic lethality, whereas overexpression of either SNC gene inhibits the growth of a distinct subset of COPI mutants. We show that GFP-Snc1 recycling to the trans-Golgi is impaired in gcs1Delta cells and these COPI mutants. Together, these results suggest that Gcs1 facilitates the incorporation of the Snc v-SNAREs into COPI recycling vesicles and subsequent endosome-Golgi sorting in yeast.