GMAP-210, A cis-Golgi network-associated protein, is a minus end microtubule-binding protein

We report that a peripheral Golgi protein with a molecular mass of 210 kD localized at the cis-Golgi network (Rios, R.M., A.M. Tassin, C. Celati, C. Antony, M.C. Boissier, J.C. Homberg, and M. Bornens. 1994. J. Cell Biol. 125:997-1013) is a microtubule-binding protein that associates in situ with a subpopulation of stable microtubules. Interaction of this protein, now called GMAP-210, for Golgi microtubule-associated protein 210, with microtubules in vitro is direct, tight and nucleotide-independent. Biochemical analysis further suggests that GMAP-210 specifically binds to microtubule ends. The full-length cDNA encoding GMAP-210 predicts a protein of 1, 979 amino acids with a very long central coiled-coil domain. Deletion analyses in vitro show that the COOH terminus of GMAP-210 binds to microtubules whereas the NH2 terminus binds to Golgi membranes. Overexpression of GMAP-210-encoding cDNA induced a dramatic enlargement of the Golgi apparatus and perturbations in the microtubule network. These effects did not occur when a mutant lacking the COOH-terminal domain was expressed. When transfected in fusion with the green fluorescent protein, the NH2-terminal domain associated with the cis-Golgi network whereas the COOH-terminal microtubule-binding domain localized at the centrosome. Altogether these data support the view that GMAP-210 serves to link the cis-Golgi network to the minus ends of centrosome-nucleated microtubules. In addition, this interaction appears essential for ensuring the proper morphology and size of the Golgi apparatus.     

Golgi positioning: are we looking at the right MAP?

One of the characteristics of the mammalian Golgi is its position adjacent to the nucleus. This characteristic is maintained through the action of the microtubule (MT) minus end-directed motor dynein and MT-associated proteins (MAPs). Recent findings suggest that GMAP-210, a member of the golgin family of proteins, may help to link Golgi membranes and vesicles with the MT cytoskeleton. However, there are good grounds to doubt that either GMAP-210 or its yeast homologue Rud3p is a MAP. Instead, they appear to function in vesicle trafficking events at the Golgi together with the GTPase ARF1 and a small membrane protein, Erv14. As such, the interesting question of how the Golgi interacts with MTs may well remain open to further investigation.     

Targeting of the Arf-like GTPase Arl3p to the Golgi requires N-terminal acetylation and the membrane protein Sys1p

The GTPase Arl3p is required to recruit a second GTPase, Arl1p, to the Golgi in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Arl1p binds to the GRIP domain, which is present in a number of long coiled-coil proteins or 'golgins'. Here we show that Arl3p is not myristoylated like most members of the Arf family, but is instead amino-terminally acetylated by the NatC complex. Targeting of Arl3p also requires a Golgi membrane protein Sys1p. The human homologues of Arl3p (Arf-related protein 1 (ARFRP1)) and Sys1p (hSys1) can be isolated in a complex after chemical cross-linking. This suggests that the targeting of ARFRP1/Arl3p to the Golgi is mediated by a direct interaction between its acetylated N terminus and Sys1p/hSys1.     

A cryptic Rab1-binding site in the p115 tethering protein

Small GTPases and coiled-coil proteins of the golgin family help to tether COPI vesicles to Golgi membranes. At the cis-side of the Golgi, the Rab1 GTPase binds directly to each of three coiled-coil proteins: p115, GM130, and as now shown, Giantin. Rab1 binds to a coiled-coil region within the tail domain of p115 and this binding is inhibited by the C-terminal, acidic domain of p115. Furthermore, GM130 and Giantin bind to the acidic domain of p115 and stimulate p115 binding to Rab1, suggesting that p115 binding to Rab1 is regulated. Regulation of this interaction by proteins such as GM130 and Giantin may control the membrane recruitment of p115 by Rab1.     

Localization and domain characterization of Arabidopsis golgin candidates

Golgins are large coiled-coil proteins that play a role in tethering of vesicles to Golgi membranes and in maintaining the overall structure of the Golgi apparatus. Six Arabidopsis proteins with the structural characteristics of golgins were isolated and shown to locate to Golgi stacks when fused to GFP. Two of these golgin candidates (GC1 and GC2) possess C-terminal transmembrane (TM) domains with similarity to the TM domain of human golgin-84. The C-termini of two others (GC3/GDAP1 and GC4) contain conserved GRAB and GA1 domains that are also found in yeast Rud3p and human GMAP210. GC5 shares similarity with yeast Sgm1p and human TMF and GC6 with yeast Uso1p and human p115. When fused to GFP, the C-terminal domains of AtCASP and GC1 to GC6 localized to the Golgi, showing that they contain Golgi localization motifs. The N-termini, on the other hand, label the cytosol or nucleus. Immuno-gold labelling and co-expression with the cis Golgi Q-SNARE Memb11 resulted in a more detailed picture of the sub-Golgi location of some of these putative golgins. Using two independent assays it is further demonstrated that the interaction between GC5, the TMF homologue, and the Rab6 homologues is conserved in plants.     

Golgi coiled-coil proteins contain multiple binding sites for Rab family G proteins

Vesicles and other carriers destined for the Golgi apparatus must be guided to the correct cisternae. Golgins, long coiled-coil proteins that localize to particular Golgi subdomains via their C termini, are candidate regulators of vesicle sorting. In this study, we report that the GRIP domain golgins, whose C termini bind the Arf-like 1 G protein on the trans-Golgi, can also bind four members of the Rab family of G proteins. The Rab2-, Rab6-, Rab19-, and Rab30-binding sites are within the coiled-coil regions that are not required for Golgi targeting. Binding sites for two of these Rabs are also present on two coiled-coil proteins of the cis-Golgi, the Drosophila melanogaster orthologues of GM130 and GMAP-210. We suggest an integrated model for a tentacular Golgi in which coiled-coil proteins surround the Golgi to capture and retain Rab-containing membranes, excluding other structures such as ribosomes. Binding sites for diverse Rabs could ensure that incoming carriers are captured on first contact and moved to their correct destination within the stack.     

Positioning the Golgi apparatus

Ríos et al. (2004) report in this issue that the Golgi protein GMAP-210 is sufficient to confer pericentrosomal positioning and recruits gamma-tubulin and associated microtubule-nucleating ring complex proteins to Golgi membranes. The results raise the possibility that short microtubules emanate from the Golgi to mediate its organization and positioning.     

The overexpression of GMAP-210 blocks anterograde and retrograde transport between the ER and the Golgi apparatus

Golgi Microtubule-Associated Protein (GMAP)-210 is a peripheral coiled-coil protein associated with the cis -Golgi network that interacts with microtubule minus ends. GMAP-210 overexpression has previously been shown to perturb the microtubule network and to induce a dramatic enlargement and fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus (Infante C, Ramos-Morales F, Fedriani C, Bornens M, Rios RM. J Cell Biol 1999; 145: 83–98). We now report that overexpressing GMAP-210 blocks the anterograde transport of both a soluble form of alkaline phosphatase and the hemagglutinin protein of influenza virus, an integral membrane protein, between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cis /medial (mannosidase II-positive) Golgi compartment. Retrograde transport of the Shiga toxin B-subunit is also blocked between the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum. As a consequence, the B-subunit accumulates in compartments positive for GMAP-210. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that, under these conditions, the Golgi complex is totally disassembled and Golgi proteins as well as proteins of the intermediate compartment are found in vesicle clusters distributed throughout the cell. The role of GMAP-210 on membrane processes at the interface between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus is discussed in the light of the property of this protein to bind CGN membranes and microtubules.     

A Highlights from MBoC Selection: Coupling of vesicle tethering and Rab binding is required for in vivo functionality of the golgin GMAP-210

Golgins are extended coiled-coil proteins believed to participate in membrane-tethering events at the Golgi apparatus. However, the importance of golgin-mediated tethering remains poorly defined, and alternative functions for golgins have been proposed. Moreover, although golgins bind to Rab GTPases, the functional significance of Rab binding has yet to be determined. In this study, we show that depletion of the golgin GMAP-210 causes a loss of Golgi cisternae and accumulation of numerous vesicles. GMAP-210 function in vivo is dependent upon its ability to tether membranes, which is mediated exclusively by the amino-terminal ALPS motif. Binding to Rab2 is also important for GMAP-210 function, although it is dispensable for tethering per se. GMAP-210 length is also functionally important in vivo. Together our results indicate a key role for GMAP-210–mediated membrane tethering in maintaining Golgi structure and support a role for Rab2 binding in linking tethering with downstream docking and fusion events at the Golgi apparatus.     

A GRASP55-rab2 effector complex linking Golgi structure to membrane traffic.

Membrane traffic between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus and through the Golgi apparatus is a highly regulated process controlled by members of the rab GTPase family. The GTP form of rab1 regulates ER to Golgi transport by interaction with the vesicle tethering factor p115 and the cis-Golgi matrix protein GM130, also part of a complex with GRASP65 important for the organization of cis-Golgi cisternae. Here, we find that a novel coiled-coil protein golgin-45 interacts with the medial-Golgi matrix protein GRASP55 and the GTP form of rab2 but not other Golgi rab proteins. Depletion of golgin-45 disrupts the Golgi apparatus and causes a block in secretory protein transport. These results demonstrate that GRASP55 and golgin-45 form a rab2 effector complex on medial-Golgi essential for normal protein transport and Golgi structure.     

Characterization of a cis-Golgi matrix protein, GM130

Antisera raised to a detergent- and salt-resistant matrix fraction from rat liver Golgi stacks were used to screen an expression library from rat liver cDNA. A full-length clone was obtained encoding a protein of 130 kD (termed GM130), the COOH-terminal domain of which was highly homologous to a Golgi human auto-antigen, golgin-95 (Fritzler et al., 1993). Biochemical data showed that GM130 is a peripheral cytoplasmic protein that is tightly bound to Golgi membranes and part of a larger oligomeric complex. Predictions from the protein sequence suggest that GM130 is an extended rod-like protein with coiled-coil domains. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed partial overlap with medial- and trans-Golgi markers but almost complete overlap with the cis-Golgi network (CGN) marker, syntaxin5. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed this location showing that most of the GM130 was located in the CGN and in one or two cisternae on the cis-side of the Golgi stack. GM130 was not re-distributed to the ER in the presence of brefeldin A but maintained its overlap with syntaxin5 and a partial overlap with the ER- Golgi intermediate compartment marker, p53. Together these results suggest that GM130 is part of a cis-Golgi matrix and has a role in maintaining cis-Golgi structure.     

Coordination of golgin tethering and SNARE assembly: GM130 binds syntaxin 5 in a p115-regulated manner

During membrane traffic, transport carriers are first tethered to the target membrane prior to undergoing fusion. Mechanisms exist to connect tethering with fusion, but in most cases, the details remain poorly understood. GM130 is a member of the golgin family of coiled-coil proteins tat is involved in membrane tethering at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi intermediate compartment and cis-Golgi. Here, we demonstrate that GM130 interacts with syntaxin 5, a t-SNARE also localized to the early secretory pathway. Binding to syntaxin 5 is specific, direct, and mediated by the membrane-proximal region of GM130. Interestingly, interaction with syntaxin 5 is inhibited by the binding of the vesicle docking protein p115 to a distal binding site in GM130. The interaction between GM130 and the small GTPase Rab1 is also inhibited by p115 binding. Our findings suggest a mechanism for coupling membrane tethering and fusion at the ER to Golgi intermediate compartment and cis-Golgi, with GM130 playing a central role in linking these processes. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that depletion of GM130 by RNA interference slows the rate of ER to Golgi trafficking in vivo. The interactions of GM130 with syntaxin 5 and Rab1 are also regulated by mitotic phosphorylation, which is likely to contribute to the inhibition of ER to Golgi trafficking that occurs when mammalian cells enter mitosis.     

Characterization of Grp1p,a novel cis-Golgi matrix protein

A high copy suppressor screen with sec34-2, a temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the late stages of ER to Golgi transport, has resulted in the identification of a novel gene called GRP1 (also called RUD3). GRP1 encodes a hydrophilic yeast protein related to the mammalian Golgi matrix protein golgin-160. A large portion of the protein is predicted to form a coiled-coil structure. Although GRP1 is not essential for growth, the loss of Grp1p results in a growth defect at high temperature. GRP1 genetically interacts with several genes involved in vesicle targeting/fusion stages of ER to Golgi transport. Despite these interactions, pulse chase analysis using Grp1p-depleted cells did not reveal a significant delay in the transit of the vacuolar protease carboxypeptidase Y. Grp1p-depleted cells efficiently secreted invertase which was underglycosylated, suggesting some disturbance of Golgi function. Grp1p-GFP predominantly colocalizes with the cis-Golgi marker Och1p. Despite lacking a signal peptide and a significant stretch of hydrophobic amino acids, Grp1p pellets with membranes. It is extracted with 1M NaCl or 0.1M Na(2)CO(3) (pH 11.0), but is surprisingly insoluble in 1% Triton X-100. Grp1p does not recycle to the ER when forward transport is blocked and a cis-Golgi marker (Och1p-HA), but not a trans-Golgi marker (Chs5p-HA), became dispersed in grp1 Delta cells after 1.5h incubation at 38.5 degrees C. Together, these data suggest that Grp1p is a novel matrix protein that is involved in the structural organization of the cis-Golgi.     

Centrosomal proteins CG-NAP and kendrin provide microtubule nucleation sites by anchoring gamma-tubulin ring complex

Microtubule assembly is initiated by the gamma-tubulin ring complex (gamma-TuRC). In yeast, the microtubule is nucleated from gamma-TuRC anchored to the amino-terminus of the spindle pole body component Spc110p, which interacts with calmodulin (Cmd1p) at the carboxy-terminus. However, mammalian protein that anchors gamma-TuRC remains to be elucidated. A giant coiled-coil protein, CG-NAP (centrosome and Golgi localized PKN-associated protein), was localized to the centrosome via the carboxyl-terminal region. This region was found to interact with calmodulin by yeast two-hybrid screening, and it shares high homology with the carboxyl-terminal region of another centrosomal coiled-coil protein, kendrin. The amino-terminal region of either CG-NAP or kendrin indirectly associated with gamma-tubulin through binding with gamma-tubulin complex protein 2 (GCP2) and/or GCP3. Furthermore, endogenous CG-NAP and kendrin were coimmunoprecipitated with each other and with endogenous GCP2 and gamma-tubulin, suggesting that CG-NAP and kendrin form complexes and interact with gamma-TuRC in vivo. These proteins were localized to the center of microtubule asters nucleated from isolated centrosomes. Pretreatment of the centrosomes by antibody to CG-NAP or kendrin moderately inhibited the microtubule nucleation; moreover, the combination of these antibodies resulted in stronger inhibition. These results imply that CG-NAP and kendrin provide sites for microtubule nucleation in the mammalian centrosome by anchoring gamma-TuRC.     

Interaction of Aurora-A and centrosomin at the microtubule-nucleating site in Drosophila and mammalian cells

A mitosis-specific Aurora-A kinase has been implicated in microtubule organization and spindle assembly in diverse organisms. However, exactly how Aurora-A controls the microtubule nucleation onto centrosomes is unknown. Here, we show that Aurora-A specifically binds to the COOH-terminal domain of a Drosophila centrosomal protein, centrosomin (CNN), which has been shown to be important for assembly of mitotic spindles and spindle poles. Aurora-A and CNN are mutually dependent for localization at spindle poles, which is required for proper targeting of gamma-tubulin and other centrosomal components to the centrosome. The NH2-terminal half of CNN interacts with gamma-tubulin, and induces cytoplasmic foci that can initiate microtubule nucleation in vivo and in vitro in both Drosophila and mammalian cells. These results suggest that Aurora-A regulates centrosome assembly by controlling the CNN's ability to targeting and/or anchoring gamma-tubulin to the centrosome and organizing microtubule-nucleating sites via its interaction with the COOH-terminal sequence of CNN.     

Golgins and GTPases, giving identity and structure to the Golgi apparatus

In this review we will focus on the recent advances in how coiled-coil proteins of the golgin family give identity and structure to the Golgi apparatus in animal cells. A number of recent studies reveal a common theme for the targeting of golgins containing the ARL-binding GRIP domain, and the related ARF-binding GRAB domain. Similarly, other golgins such as the vesicle tethering factor p115 and Bicaudal-D are targeted by the Rab GTPases, Rab1 and Rab6, respectively. Together golgins and their regulatory GTPases form a complex network, commonly known as the Golgi matrix, which organizes Golgi membranes and regulates membrane trafficking.     

Golgi localisation of GMAP210 requires two distinct cis-membrane binding mechanisms

Background  

The Golgi apparatus in mammals appears as a ribbon made up of interconnected stacks of flattened cisternae that is positioned close to the centrosome in a microtubule-dependent manner. How this organisation is achieved and retained is not well understood. GMAP210 is a long coiled-coil cis-Golgi associated protein that plays a role in maintaining Golgi ribbon integrity and position and contributes to the formation of the primary cilium. An amphipathic alpha-helix able to bind liposomes in vitro has been recently identified at the first 38 amino acids of the protein (amphipathic lipid-packing sensor motif), and an ARF1-binding domain (Grip-related Arf-binding domain) was found at the C-terminus. To which type of membranes these two GMAP210 regions bind in vivo and how this contributes to GMAP210 localisation and function remains to be investigated.     

Interaction of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cortical actin patch protein Rvs167p with proteins involved in ER to Golgi vesicle trafficking

We have used affinity chromatography to identify two proteins that bind to the SH3 domain of the actin cytoskeleton protein Rvs167p: Gyp5p and Gyl1p. Gyp5p has been shown to be a GTPase activating protein (GAP) for Ypt1p, a Rab GTPase involved in ER to Golgi trafficking; Gyl1p is a protein that resembles Gyp5p and has recently been shown to colocalize with and belong to the same protein complex as Gyp5p. We show that Gyl1p and Gyp5p interact directly with each other, likely through their carboxy-terminal coiled-coil regions. In assays of GAP activity, Gyp5p had GAP activity toward Ypt1p and we found that this activity was stimulated by the addition of Gyl1p. Gyl1p had no GAP activity toward Ypt1p. Genetic experiments suggest a role for Gyp5p and Gyl1p in ER to Golgi trafficking, consistent with their biochemical role. Since Rvs167p has a previously characterized role in endocytosis and we have shown here that it interacts with proteins involved in Golgi vesicle trafficking, we suggest that Rvs167p may have a general role in vesicle trafficking.     

gamma-tubulin complexes: binding to the centrosome, regulation and microtubule nucleation

Microtubule assembly is initiated in vivo by gamma-tubulin complexes. Cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complexes are targeted to centrosomes or to other microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) via a set of so called gamma-tubulin complex binding proteins (GTBPs) that probably interact with the conserved Spc97p/Spc98p protein family of gamma-tubulin complexes. In other cell types, gamma-tubulin complexes may initiate microtubule formation near chromosomes in a MTOC-independent manner. Recently, major advances have been achieved through the finding that gamma-tubulin, Spc97p and Spc98p form a conserved core that is probably responsible for microtubule nucleation, and by the discovery that a yeast GTBP is regulated in a cell-cycle-dependent manner and in response to an external signal. Furthermore, it was found that the small GTPase Ran in its GDP-bound state may promote spindle assembly. In addition, an essential function of gamma-tubulin in basal body duplication has been demonstrated in Paramecium.     

Myosin phosphatase-targeting subunit 1 regulates mitosis by antagonizing polo-like kinase 1

Myosin phosphatase-targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) binds to the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1C). This binding is believed to target PP1C to specific substrates including myosin II, thus controlling cellular contractility. Surprisingly, we found that during mitosis, mammalian MYPT1 binds to polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). MYPT1 is phosphorylated during mitosis by proline-directed kinases including cdc2, which generates the binding motif for the polo box domain of PLK1. Depletion of PLK1 by small interfering RNAs is known to result in loss of gamma-tubulin recruitment to the centrosomes, blocking centrosome maturation and leading to mitotic arrest. We found that codepletion of MYPT1 and PLK1 reinstates gamma-tubulin at the centrosomes, rescuing the mitotic arrest. MYPT1 depletion increases phosphorylation of PLK1 at its activating site (Thr210) in vivo, explaining, at least in part, the rescue phenotype by codepletion. Taken together, our results identify a previously unrecognized role for MYPT1 in regulating mitosis by antagonizing PLK1.