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Randy Schekman

Publications and source records attributed to Randy Schekman.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Multiple cargo binding sites on the COPII subunit Sec24p ensure capture of diverse membrane proteins into transport vesicles.

We have characterized the mechanisms of cargo selection into ER-derived vesicles by the COPII subunit Sec24p. We identified a site on Sec24p that recognizes the v-SNARE Bet1p and show that packaging of a number of cargo molecules is disrupted when mutations are introduced at this site. Surprisingly, cargo proteins affected by these mutations did not share a single common sorting signal, nor were proteins sharing a putative class of signal affected to the same degree. We show that the same site is conserved as a cargo-interaction domain on the Sec24p homolog Lst1p, which only packages a subset of the cargoes recognized by Sec24p. Finally, we identified an additional mutation that defines another cargo binding domain on Sec24p, which specifically interacts with the SNARE Sec22p. Together, our data support a model whereby Sec24p proteins contain multiple independent cargo binding domains that allow for recognition of a diverse set of sorting signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

The yeasts Rho1p and Pkc1p regulate the transport of chitin synthase III (Chs3p) from internal stores to the plasma membrane.

During cell stress, Saccharomyces cerevisiae increases the synthesis of chitin and glucans to strengthen and repair the cell wall. In this study, we show that under conditions of cell stress, the steady-state localization of chitin synthase III (Chs3p) shifts from internal stores (chitosomes) to the plasma membrane (PM). This redistribution occurs rapidly and requires the activators of the cell wall stress response signaling pathway, the G protein Rho1p, and the protein kinase Pkc1p, but not the cell integrity response mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Furthermore, expression of activated forms of Rho1p or Pkc1p, in the absence of cell stress, is sufficient to redistribute Chs3p to the PM. In cells deficient for both the clathrin adaptor complex 1 and Chs6p, where Chs3p is transported to the PM by an alternative bypass pathway, cell wall stress did not cause mobilization of Chs3p, suggesting that Rho1p/Pkc1p regulate Chs3p exit from the trans-Golgi network. The mobilization of an intracellular reservoir of Chs3p presents a novel opportunity to investigate the genetic basis of regulated vesicular traffic.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed2003

Self-assembly of minimal COPII cages.

The small G-protein Sar1 and the cytosolic complexes Sec23/24 and Sec13/31 associate sequentially on endoplasmic reticulum membranes to form a protein coat named COPII, which drives the formation of transport vesicles. Using dynamic light scattering, we show that Sec23/24 and Sec13/31 can self-assemble in a stoichiometric manner in solution to form particles with hydrodynamic radii in the range of 40-60 nm. Self-assembly is favoured by lowering the pH, the ionic strength and/or the temperature. Electron microscopy reveals the formation of spherical particles 60-120 nm in diameter with a tight, rough mesh on their surfaces. We suggest that these structures, which represent a minimal COPII cage, mimic the molecular organization of the membrane-associated COPII coat.

COP-Coated Vesicles↗
PubMed2002

Concentrative sorting of secretory cargo proteins into COPII-coated vesicles.

Here, we show that efficient transport of membrane and secretory proteins from the ER of Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires concentrative and signal-mediated sorting. Three independent markers of bulk flow transport out of the ER indicate that in the absence of an ER export signal, molecules are inefficiently captured into coat protein complex II (COPII)-coated vesicles. A soluble secretory protein, glycosylated pro-alpha-factor (gpalphaf), was enriched approximately 20 fold in these vesicles relative to bulk flow markers. In the absence of Erv29p, a membrane protein that facilitates gpalphaf transport (Belden and Barlowe, 2001), gpalphaf is packaged into COPII vesicles as inefficiently as soluble bulk flow markers. We also found that a plasma membrane protein, the general amino acid permease (Gap1p), is enriched approximately threefold in COPII vesicles relative to membrane phospholipids. Mutation of a diacidic sequence present in the COOH-terminal cytosolic domain of Gap1p eliminated concentrative sorting of this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Cargo selection into COPII vesicles is driven by the Sec24p subunit.

Transport of secretory proteins out of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is mediated by vesicles generated by the COPII coat complex. In order to understand how cargo molecules are selected by this cytoplasmic coat, we investigated the functional role of the Sec24p homolog, Lst1p. We show that Lst1p can function as a COPII subunit independently of Sec24p on native ER membranes and on synthetic liposomes. However, vesicles generated with Lst1p in the absence of Sec24p are deficient in a distinct subset of cargo molecules, including the SNAREs, Bet1p, Bos1p and Sec22p. Consistent with the absence of any SNAREs, these vesicles are unable to fuse with Golgi membranes. Furthermore, unlike Sec24p, Lst1p fails to bind to Bet1p in vitro, indicating a direct correlation between cargo binding and recruitment into vesicles. Our data suggest that the principle role of Sec24p is to discriminate cargo molecules for incorporation into COPII vesicles.

COP-Coated Vesicles↗
PubMed2002

Sec16p potentiates the action of COPII proteins to bud transport vesicles.

SEC16 encodes a 240-kD hydrophilic protein that is required for transport vesicle budding from the ER in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sec16p is tightly and peripherally bound to ER membranes, hence it is not one of the cytosolic proteins required to reconstitute transport vesicle budding in a cell-free reaction. However, Sec16p is removed from the membrane by salt washes, and using such membranes we have reconstituted a vesicle budding reaction dependent on the addition of COPII proteins and pure Sec16p. Although COPII vesicle budding is promoted by GTP or a nonhydrolyzable analogue, guanylimide diphosphate (GMP-PNP), Sec16p stimulation is dependent on GTP in the reaction. Details of coat protein assembly and Sec16p-stimulated vesicle budding were explored with synthetic liposomes composed of a mixture of lipids, including acidic phospholipids (major-minor mix), or a simple binary mixture of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Sec16p binds to major-minor mix liposomes and facilitates the recruitment of COPII proteins and vesicle budding in a reaction that is stimulated by Sar1p and GMP-PNP. Thin-section electron microscopy confirms a stimulation of budding profiles produced by incubation of liposomes with COPII and Sec16p. Whereas acidic phospholipids in the major-minor mix are required to recruit pure Sec16p to liposomes, PC/PE liposomes bind Sar1p-GTP, which stimulates the association of Sec16p and Sec23/24p. We propose that Sec16p nucleates a Sar1-GTP-dependent initiation of COPII assembly and serves to stabilize the coat to premature disassembly after Sar1p hydrolyzes GTP.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed2002

Ceramide biosynthesis is required for the formation of the oligomeric H+-ATPase Pma1p in the yeast endoplasmic reticulum.

The yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase Pma1p is one of the most abundant proteins to traverse the secretory pathway. Newly synthesized Pma1p exits the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via COPII-coated vesicles bound for the Golgi. Unlike most secreted proteins, efficient incorporation of Pma1p into COPII vesicles requires the Sec24p homolog Lst1p, suggesting a unique role for Lst1p in ER export. Vesicles formed with mixed Sec24p-Lst1p coats are larger than those with Sec24p alone. Here, we examined the relationship between Pma1p biosynthesis and the requirement for this novel coat subunit. We show that Pma1p forms a large oligomeric complex of >1 MDa in the ER, which is packaged into COPII vesicles. Furthermore, oligomerization of Pma1p is linked to membrane lipid composition; Pma1p is rendered monomeric in cells depleted of ceramide, suggesting that association with lipid rafts may influence oligomerization. Surprisingly, monomeric Pma1p present in ceramide-deficient membranes can be exported from the ER in COPII vesicles in a reaction that is stimulated by Lst1p. We suggest that Lst1p directly conveys Pma1p into a COPII vesicle and that the larger size of mixed Sec24pLst1p COPII vesicles is not essential to the packaging of large oligomeric complexes.

COP-Coated Vesicles↗
PubMed2002

A subset of yeast vacuolar protein sorting mutants is blocked in one branch of the exocytic pathway.

Exocytic vesicles that accumulate in a temperature-sensitive sec6 mutant at a restrictive temperature can be separated into at least two populations with different buoyant densities and unique cargo molecules. Using a sec6 mutant background to isolate vesicles, we have found that vacuolar protein sorting mutants that block an endosome-mediated route to the vacuole, including vps1, pep12, vps4, and a temperature-sensitive clathrin mutant, missort cargo normally transported by dense exocytic vesicles, such as invertase, into light exocytic vesicles, whereas transport of cargo specific to the light exocytic vesicles appears unaffected. Immunoisolation experiments confirm that missorting, rather than a changed property of the normally dense vesicles, is responsible for the altered density gradient fractionation profile. The vps41Delta and apl6Delta mutants, which block transport of only the subset of vacuolar proteins that bypasses endosomes, sort exocytic cargo normally. Furthermore, a vps10Delta sec6 mutant, which lacks the sorting receptor for carboxypeptidase Y (CPY), accumulates both invertase and CPY in dense vesicles. These results suggest that at least one branch of the yeast exocytic pathway transits through endosomes before reaching the cell surface. Consistent with this possibility, we show that immunoisolated clathrin-coated vesicles contain invertase.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗