S-acylation of LCK protein tyrosine kinase is essential for its signalling function in T lymphocytes.

LCK is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase required for signal transduction via the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR). LCK N-terminus is S-acylated on Cys3 and Cys5, in addition to its myristoylation on Gly2. Here the role of S-acylation in LCK function was examined. Transient transfection of COS-18 cells, which express a CD8-zeta chimera on their surface, revealed that LCK mutants that were singly S-acylated were able to target to the plasma membrane and to phosphorylate CD8-zeta. A non-S-acylated LCK mutant did not target to the plasma membrane and failed to phosphorylate CD8-zeta, although it was catalytically active. Fusion of non-S-acylated LCK to a transmembrane protein, CD16:7, allowed its plasma membrane targeting and also phosphorylation of CD8-zeta when expressed in COS-18 cells. Thus S-acylation targets LCK to the plasma membrane where it can interact with the TCR. When expressed in LCK-negative JCam-1.6 T cells, delocalized, non-S-acylated LCK was completely non-functional. Singly S-acylated LCK mutants, which were expressed in part at the plasma membrane, efficiently reconstituted the induced association of phospho-zeta with ZAP-70 and intracellular Ca2+ fluxes triggered by the TCR. Induction of the late signalling proteins, CD69 and NFAT, was also reconstituted, although at reduced levels. The transmembrane LCK chimera also supported the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca2+ flux by the TCR in JCam-1.6 cells. However, induction of ERK MAP kinase was reduced and the chimera was incapable of reconstituting induced CD69 or NFAT expression. These data indicate that LCK must be attached to the plasma membrane via dual acylation of its N-terminus to function properly in TCR signalling.     

Novel thioester reagents afford efficient and specific S-acylation of unprotected peptides under mild conditions in aqueous solution.

S-acylated peptides have many potential uses for elucidating the biophysical, structural and other properties of the numerous S-acylated proteins of mammalian cells. However, with the currently available reagents, preparation of specifically S-acylated derivatives of peptides is generally laborious or simply unfeasible. We here show that novel, easily preparable aryl and alkyl thioester derivatives of palmitic acid can mediate S-acylation of peptides corresponding to physiologically S-acylated sequences from the proteins p56(lck) and H-ras and the Po glycoprotein of peripheral myelin, with high selectivity for cysteine over other amino acid functional groups (including hydroxyl and both alpha- and epsilon-amino residues), and with much greater efficiency than is obtained using acyl-coenzyme A derivatives. Efficient and selective S-acylation can be accomplished under very mild conditions in aqueous systems containing lipid vesicles or detergent micelles, or in homogenous aqueous/acetonitrile mixtures. Using these novel thioesterifying reagents, we confirm previous suggestions that the N-terminal cysteine residue of Hedgehog proteins can exhibit rapid, uncatalyzed S-to-N acyl transfer following S-acylation to produce the N-palmitoylated amino terminus found in the mature protein. By contrast, we demonstrate that spontaneous S-to-N acyl transfer from the cysteine to the terminal glycine residue in the amino-terminal peptide of G(alphas) is far less rapid and is likely too slow to explain the physiological N-palmitoylation of the amino terminus of this protein.     

Golgi complex–plasma membrane trafficking directed by an autonomous,tribasic Golgi export signal

Although numerous linear motifs that direct protein trafficking within cells have been identified, there are few examples of linear sorting signals mediating directed export of membrane proteins from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. The reovirus fusion-associated small transmembrane proteins are simple, single-pass transmembrane proteins that traffic through the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi pathway to the plasma membrane, where they induce cell–cell membrane fusion. Here we show that a membrane-proximal, polybasic motif (PBM) in the cytosolic tail of p14 is essential for efficient export of p14 from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. Extensive mutagenic analysis reveals that the number, but not the identity or position, of basic residues present in the PBM dictates p14 export from the Golgi complex, with a minimum of three basic residues required for efficient Golgi export. Results further indicate that the tribasic motif does not affect plasma membrane retention of p14. Furthermore, introduction of the tribasic motif into a Golgi-localized, chimeric ERGIC-53 protein directs export from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane. The p14 PBM is the first example of an autonomous, tribasic signal required for Golgi export to the plasma membrane.     

S-acylation regulates the membrane association and activity of Calpain-5

Calpain-5 (CAPN5) is a member of the calpain family of calcium-activated neutral thiol proteases. CAPN5 is partly membrane associated, despite its lack of a transmembrane domain. Unlike classical calpains, CAPN5 contains a C-terminal C2 domain. C2 domains often have affinity to lipids, mediating membrane association. We recently reported that the C2 domain of CAPN5 was essential for its membrane association and the activation of its autolytic activity. However, despite the removal of the C2 domain by autolysis, the N-terminal fragment of CAPN5 remained membrane associated. S-acylation, also referred to as S-palmitoylation, is a reversible post-translational lipid modification of cysteine residues that promotes membrane association of soluble proteins. In the present study several S-acylated cysteine residues were identified in CAPN5 with the acyl-PEG exchange method. Data reported here demonstrate that CAPN5 is S-acylated on up to three cysteine residues including Cys-4 and Cys-512, and likely Cys-507. The D589N mutation in a potential calcium binding loop within the C2 domain interfered with the S-acylation of CAPN5, likely preventing initial membrane association. Mutating specific cysteine residues of CAPN5 interfered with both its membrane association and the activation of CAPN5 autolysis. Taken together, our results suggest that the S-acylation of CAPN5 is critical for its membrane localization which appears to favor its enzymatic activity.     

Palmitoylation of virus proteins

The article summarises the results of more than 30 years of research on palmitoylation (S-acylation) of viral proteins, the post-translational attachment of fatty acids to cysteine residues of integral and peripheral membrane proteins. Analysing viral proteins is not only important to characterise the cellular pathogens but also instrumental to decipher the palmitoylation machinery of cells. This comprehensive review describes methods to identify S-acylated proteins and covers the fundamental biochemistry of palmitoylation: the location of palmitoylation sites in viral proteins, the fatty acid species found in S-acylated proteins, the intracellular site of palmitoylation and the enzymology of the reaction. Finally, the functional consequences of palmitoylation are discussed regarding binding of proteins to membranes or membrane rafts, entry of enveloped viruses into target cells by spike-mediated membrane fusion as well as assembly and release of virus particles from infected cells. The topics are described mainly for palmitoylated proteins of influenza virus, but proteins of other important pathogens, such as the causative agents of AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome, and of model viruses are discussed.     

Protein S-acylation in plants (Review)

Membrane resident proteins are a common feature of biology yet many of these proteins are not integral to the membrane. These peripheral membrane proteins are often bound to the membrane by the addition of fatty acyl chains to the protein. This modification, known as S-acylation or palmitoylation, promotes very strong membrane association but is also reversible allowing for a high degree of control over membrane association. Many S-acylated proteins are resident in sterol, sphingolipid and saturated-lipid enriched microdomains indicating an important role for S-acylation in protein partitioning within membranes. This review summarises the current knowledge of S-acylation in plants. S-acylated proteins play a wide variety of roles in plants and affect Ca²⁺ signalling, K⁺ movement, stress signalling, small and heterotrimeric G-protein membrane association and partitioning, tubulin function as well as pathogenesis. Although the study of S-acylation is in its infancy in plants this review illustrates that S-acylation is extremely important for plant function and that there are many unexplored aspects of S-acylation in plants. A full summary of the techniques and methods available to study S-acylation in plants is also presented.     

H-ras but not K-ras traffics to the plasma membrane through the exocytic pathway

Ras proteins must be localized to the inner surface of the plasma membrane to be biologically active. The motifs that effect Ras plasma membrane targeting consist of a C-terminal CAAX motif plus a second signal comprising palmitoylation of adjacent cysteine residues or the presence of a polybasic domain. In this study, we examined how Ras proteins access the cell surface after processing of the CAAX motif is completed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We show that palmitoylated CAAX proteins, in addition to being localized at the plasma membrane, are found throughout the exocytic pathway and accumulate in the Golgi region when cells are incubated at 15 degrees C. In contrast, polybasic CAAX proteins are found only at the cell surface and not in the exocytic pathway. CAAX proteins which lack a second signal for plasma membrane targeting accumulate in the ER and Golgi. Brefeldin A (BFA) significantly inhibits the plasma membrane accumulation of newly synthesized, palmitoylated CAAX proteins without inhibiting their palmitoylation. BFA has no effect on the trafficking of polybasic CAAX proteins. We conclude that H-ras and K-ras traffic to the cell surface through different routes and that the polybasic domain is a sorting signal diverting K-Ras out of the classical exocytic pathway proximal to the Golgi. Farnesylated Ras proteins that lack a polybasic domain reach the Golgi but require palmitoylation in order to traffic further to the cell surface. These data also indicate that a Ras palmitoyltransferase is present in an early compartment of the exocytic pathway.     

Distinct reading of different structural determinants modulates the dileucine-mediated transport steps of the lysosomal membrane protein LIMPII and the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter GLUT4

Leucine-based motifs mediate the sorting of membrane proteins at such cellular sites as the trans-Golgi network, endosomes, and plasma membrane. A Leu paired with a second Leu, Ile, or Met, while itself lacking the ability to mediate transport, is the key structural feature in these motifs. Here we have studied the structural differences between the leucine-based motifs contained in the COOH tails of LIMPII and GLUT4, two membrane proteins that are transported through the secretory pathway and are targeted to lysosomes () and to a perinuclear compartment adjacent to the Golgi complex (), respectively. LIMPII and GLUT4 display negatively (Asp(470)/Glu(471)) and positively (Arg(484)/Arg(485)) charged residues, respectively, at positions -4 and -5 upstream from the critical Leu residue. The change in the charge sign of residues -4 and -5 results in missorting of LIMPII and GLUT4. We note that the acidic Glu residue at position -4 is critical for efficient intracellular sorting of LIMPII to lysosomes, but is dispensable for its surface internalization by endocytosis. Efficient intracellular sorting and endocytosis of GLUT4 require an Arg pair between positions -4 and -7. These results are consistent with the existence of distinct leucine-based motifs and provide evidence of their different readings at different cellular sites.     

Protein acyl thioesterases (Review)

Many proteins are S-acylated, affecting their localization and function. Dynamic S-acylation in response to various stimuli has been seen for several proteins in vivo. The regulation of S-acylation is beginning to be elucidated. Proteins can autoacylate or be S-acylated by protein acyl transferases (PATs). Deacylation, on the other hand, is an enzymatic process catalyzed by protein thioesterases (APT1 and PPT1) but only APT1 appears to be involved in the regulation of the reversible S-acylation of cytoplasmic proteins seen in vivo. PPT1, on the other hand, is involved in the lysosomal degradation of S-acylated proteins and PPT1 deficiency causes the disease infant neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.     

Proteomic profiling of S-acylated macrophage proteins identifies a role for palmitoylation in mitochondrial targeting of phospholipid scramblase 3

S-Palmitoylation, the reversible post-translational acylation of specific cysteine residues with the fatty acid palmitate, promotes the membrane tethering and subcellular localization of proteins in several biological pathways. Although inhibiting palmitoylation holds promise as a means for manipulating protein targeting, advances in the field have been hampered by limited understanding of palmitoylation enzymology and consensus motifs. In order to define the complement of S-acylated proteins in the macrophage, we treated RAW 264.7 macrophage membranes with hydroxylamine to cleave acyl thioesters, followed by biotinylation of newly exposed sulfhydryls and streptavidin-agarose affinity chromatography. Among proteins identified by LC-MS/MS, S-acylation status was established by spectral counting to assess enrichment under hydroxylamine versus mock treatment conditions. Of 1183 proteins identified in four independent experiments, 80 proteins were significant for S-acylation at false discovery rate = 0.05, and 101 significant at false discovery rate = 0.10. Candidate S-acylproteins were identified from several functional categories, including membrane trafficking, signaling, transporters, and receptors. Among these were 29 proteins previously biochemically confirmed as palmitoylated, 45 previously reported as putative S-acylproteins in proteomic screens, 24 not previously associated with palmitoylation, and three presumed false-positives. Nearly half of the candidates were previously identified by us in macrophage detergent-resistant membranes, suggesting that palmitoylation promotes lipid raft-localization of proteins in the macrophage. Among the candidate novel S-acylproteins was phospholipid scramblase 3 (Plscr3), a protein that regulates apoptosis through remodeling the mitochondrial membrane. Palmitoylation of Plscr3 was confirmed through (3)H-palmitate labeling. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis of a cluster of five cysteines (Cys159-161-163-164-166) abolished palmitoylation, caused Plscr3 mislocalization from mitochondrion to nucleus, and reduced macrophage apoptosis in response to etoposide, together suggesting a role for palmitoylation at this site for mitochondrial targeting and pro-apoptotic function of Plscr3. Taken together, we propose that manipulation of protein palmitoylation carries great potential for intervention in macrophage biology via reprogramming of protein localization.     

S-acylation-dependent association of the calcium sensor CBL2 with the vacuolar membrane is essential for proper abscisic acid responses

Calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins contribute to decoding calcium signals by interacting with CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). Currently, there is still very little information about the function and specific targeting mechanisms of CBL proteins that are localized at the vacuolar membrane. In this study, we focus on CBL2, an abundant vacuolar membrane-localized calcium sensor of unknown function from Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that vacuolar targeting of CBL2 is specifically brought about by S-acylation of three cysteine residues in its N-terminus and that CBL2 S-acylation and targeting occur by a Brefeldin A-insensitive pathway. Loss of CBL2 function renders plants hypersensitive to the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination and only fully S-acylated and properly vacuolar-targeted CBL2 proteins can complement this mutant phenotype. These findings define an S-acylation-dependent vacuolar membrane targeting pathway for proteins and uncover a crucial role of vacuolar calcium sensors in ABA responses.     

Solid-phase synthesis and application of double-fluorescent-labeled lipopeptides, containing a CTL-epitope from the measles fusion protein.

The mechanism which enables lipopeptides to induce cytotoxicity is not known. By preparing fluorescent-labeled lipopeptides one might unravel the mechanism of their entry into the cell and their intracellular pathway. A method of preparing double-fluorescent-labeled peptides by solid-phase chemistry is described. As model peptides we have chosen analogs of the sequence RRYPDAVYL, which occurs in the measles fusion protein (F438-446) and is an epitope for cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The peptides Pal-K(TMR)KKKRRYPDAVK(FL)L (7) and Pal-K(FL)KKKRRYPDAVK(TMR)L (8), in which Pal is palmitoyl and K(TMR) and K(FL) are Nepsilon-carboxytetramethylrhodamine- and Nepsilon-carboxyfluorescein-labeled lysyl residues, respectively, were prepared and obtained in approximately 30% yield after purification by high-performance liquid chromatography. The fluorescence of fluorescein and tetramethylrhodamine in lipopeptide Pal-K(TMR)KKKRRYPDAVK(FL)L (7) was quenched to 98-99% due to intramolecular interaction of the labels. On incubation with trypsin (i.e. cleavage at the KKKRR-site) the fluorescence of both labels was restored. The intracellular routing of lipopeptide Pal-K(TMR)KKKRRYPDAVK(FL)L was studied with human melanoma cell line, Mel/J, which was transfected with human leukocyte antigen B*2705. It appeared that the double-fluorescent-labeled lipopeptide was able to induce antigen-specific cytotoxicity. Furthermore, preliminary confocal microscopical studies indicated that this lipopeptide is observed intracellularly.     

Endoplasmic reticulum export of glycosyltransferases depends on interaction of a cytoplasmic dibasic motif with Sar1

Membrane proteins exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in COPII-transport vesicles. ER export is a selective process in which transport signals present in the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of cargo membrane proteins must be recognized by coatomer proteins for incorporation in COPII vesicles. Two classes of ER export signals have been described for type I membrane proteins, the diacidic and the dihydrophobic motifs. Both motifs participate in the Sar1-dependent binding of Sec23p-Sec24p complex to the CTs during early steps of cargo selection. However, information concerning the amino acids in the CTs that interact with Sar1 is lacking. Herein, we describe a third class of ER export motif, [RK](X)[RK], at the CT of Golgi resident glycosyltransferases that is required for these type II membrane proteins to exit the ER. The dibasic motif is located proximal to the transmembrane border, and experiments of cross-linking in microsomal membranes and of binding to immobilized peptides showed that it directly interacts with the COPII component Sar1. Sar1GTP-bound to immobilized peptides binds Sec23p. Collectively, the present data suggest that interaction of the dibasic motif with Sar1 participates in early steps of selection of Golgi resident glycosyltransferases for transport in COPII vesicles.     

FASN inhibitor TVB-3166 prevents S-acylation of the spike protein of human coronaviruses

The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other coronaviruses mediates host cell entry and is S-acylated on multiple phylogenetically conserved cysteine residues. Multiple protein acyltransferase enzymes have been reported to post-translationally modify spike proteins; however, strategies to exploit this modification are lacking. Using resin-assisted capture MS, we demonstrate that the spike protein is S-acylated in SARS-CoV-2-infected human and monkey epithelial cells. We further show that increased abundance of the acyltransferase ZDHHC5 associates with increased S-acylation of the spike protein, whereas ZDHHC5 knockout cells had a 40% reduction in the incorporation of an alkynyl-palmitate using click chemistry detection. We also found that the S-acylation of the spike protein is not limited to palmitate, as clickable versions of myristate and stearate were also labelled the protein. Yet, we observed that ZDHHC5 was only modified when incubated with alkyne-palmitate, suggesting it has specificity for this acyl-CoA, and that other ZDHHC enzymes may use additional fatty acids to modify the spike protein. Since multiple ZDHHC isoforms may modify the spike protein, we also examined the ability of the FASN inhibitor TVB-3166 to prevent S-acylation of the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and human CoV-229E. We show that treating cells with TVB-3166 inhibited S-acylation of expressed spike proteins and attenuated the ability of SARS-CoV-2 and human CoV-229E to spread in vitro. Our findings further substantiate the necessity of CoV spike protein S-acylation and demonstrate that de novo fatty acid synthesis is critical for the proper S-acylation of the spike protein.     

The cytoplasmic tail of the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II receptor has two signals for lysosomal enzyme sorting in the Golgi

The mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-II (Man-6-P/IGF-II) receptor is known to cycle between the Golgi, endosomes, and the plasma membrane. In the Golgi the receptor binds newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes and transports them directly to an endosomal (prelysosomal) compartment without traversing the plasma membrane. Deletion of the carboxyl-terminal Leu-Leu-His-Val residues of the 163 amino acid cytoplasmic tail of the bovine Man-6-P/IGF-II receptor partially impaired this function, resulting in the diversion of a portion of the receptor-ligand complexes to the cell surface, where they were endocytosed. The same phenotype was observed when 134 residues of the cytoplasmic tail were deleted from the carboxyl terminus. Disruption of the Tyr24-Lys-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Val29 plasma membrane internalization signal alone had little effect on Golgi sorting, but when combined with either deletion resulted in a complete loss of this function. The mutant receptors retained the ability to recycle to the Golgi and bind cathepsin D. These results indicate that the cytoplasmic tail of the Man-6-P/IGF-II receptor contains two signals that contribute to Golgi sorting, presumably by interacting with the Golgi clathrin-coated pit adaptor proteins. The Leu-Leu-containing sequence represents a novel motif for mediating interaction with Golgi adaptor proteins.     

The design and implementation of a generic lipopeptide scanning platform to enable the identification of ‘locally acting’ agonists for the apelin receptor

This Letter describes methodology to enable the identification of tool or therapeutic lipopeptides which modulate the function of membrane bound proteins. The choice of lipopeptides as a chemotype is the amalgamation of multiple medicinal chemistry considerations including duration of action, low systemic exposure and access to intracellular components. The ‘lipopeptide shuffle’ has been applied here to the APJ receptor and has rapidly resulted in the discovery of a 33 nM APJ agonist hit from an initial 369 member lipopeptide synthetic array.     

Identification of amino acid residues within the C terminus of the Glut4 glucose transporter that are essential for insulin-stimulated redistribution to the plasma membrane

The Glut4 glucose transporter undergoes complex insulin-regulated subcellular trafficking in adipocytes. Much effort has been expended in an attempt to identify targeting motifs within Glut4 that direct its subcellular trafficking, but an amino acid motif responsible for the targeting of the transporter to insulin-responsive intracellular compartments in the basal state or that is directly responsible for its insulin-stimulated redistribution to the plasma membrane has not yet been delineated. In this study we define amino acid residues within the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of Glut4 that are essential for its insulin-stimulated translocation to the plasma membrane. The residues were identified based on sequence similarity (LXXLXPDEXD) between cytoplasmic domains of Glut4 and the insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP). Alteration of this putative targeting motif (IRM, insulin-responsive motif) resulted in the targeting of the bulk of the mutant Glut4 molecules to dispersed membrane vesicles that lacked detectable levels of wild-type Glut4 in either the basal or insulin-stimulated states and completely abolished the insulin-stimulated translocation of the mutant Glut4 to the plasma membrane in 3T3L1 adipocytes. The bulk of the dispersed membrane vesicles containing the IRM mutant did not contain detectable levels of any subcellular marker tested. A fraction of the total IRM mutant was also detected in a wild-type Glut4/Syntaxin 6-containing perinuclear compartment. Interestingly, mutation of the IRM sequence did not appreciably alter the subcellular trafficking of IRAP. We conclude that residues within the IRM are critical for the targeting of Glut4, but not of IRAP, to insulin-responsive intracellular membrane compartments in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

Endothelial receptor tyrosine kinases involved in angiogenesis

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae EMP47 gene encodes a nonessential type-I transmembrane protein with sequence homology to a class of intracellular lectins defined by ERGIC-53 and VIP36. The 12-amino acid COOH-terminal cytoplasmic tail of Emp47p ends in the sequence KTKLL, which conforms with the consensus for di-lysine-based ER-localization signals. Despite the presence of this motif, Emp47p was shown to be a Golgi protein at steady-state. The di-lysine motif of Emp47p was functional when transplanted onto Ste2p, a plasma membrane protein, conferring ER localization. Nevertheless, the di-lysine motif was required for Golgi-localization of Emp47p and showed the same charge- independent, position-dependent characteristics of other di-lysine motifs. Alpha-COP has been shown to be required for ER localization of di-lysine-tagged proteins. Consistent with this finding, the Ste2p- Emp47p hybrid protein was mislocalized to the cell surface in the alpha- COP mutant, ret1-1. Surprisingly, the Golgi-localization of Emp47p was unaffected by the ret1-1 mutation. To investigate whether Emp47p undergoes retrograde transport from the Golgi to the ER like other di- lysine-tagged proteins we developed an assay to measure this step after block of forward transport in a sec12 mutant. Under these conditions retrograde transport led to a specific redistribution of Emp47p from the Golgi to the ER. This recycling occurred from a Golgi subcompartment containing alpha 1,3 mannose-modified oligosaccharides suggesting that it originated from a medial-or later Golgi compartment. Thus Emp47p cycles between the Golgi apparatus and the ER and requires a di-lysine motif for its alpha-COP-independent, steady state localization in the Golgi.     

Actin filaments play a critical role in vacuolar trafficking at the Golgi complex in plant cells

Actin filaments are thought to play an important role in intracellular trafficking in various eukaryotic cells. However, their involvement in intracellular trafficking in plant cells has not been clearly demonstrated. Here, we investigated the roles actin filaments play in intracellular trafficking in plant cells using latrunculin B (Lat B), an inhibitor of actin filament assembly, or actin mutants that disrupt actin filaments when overexpressed. Lat B and actin2 mutant overexpression inhibited the trafficking of two vacuolar reporter proteins, sporamin:green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Arabidopsis thaliana aleurain-like protein:GFP, to the central vacuole; instead, a punctate staining pattern was observed. Colocalization experiments with various marker proteins indicated that these punctate stains corresponded to the Golgi complex. The A. thaliana vacuolar sorting receptor VSR-At, which mainly localizes to the prevacuolar compartment, also accumulated at the Golgi complex in the presence of Lat B. However, Lat B had no effect on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi trafficking of sialyltransferase or retrograde Golgi to ER trafficking. Lat B also failed to influence the Golgi to plasma membrane trafficking of H+-ATPase:GFP or the secretion of invertase:GFP. Based on these observations, we propose that actin filaments play a critical role in the trafficking of proteins from the Golgi complex to the central vacuole.