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Rodilla-Ramirez, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Rodilla-Ramirez, C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Nanoscale imaging reveals the mechanisms of ER-to-Golgi transport via a dynamic tubular-vesicular network

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus are the first sorting stations along the secretory pathway of mammalian cells and have a crucial role in protein quality control and cellular homeostasis. While machinery components mediating ER-to-Golgi transport have been mapped, it is unclear how exchange between the two closely juxtaposed organelles is coordinated in living cells. Here, using gene editing to tag machinery components, live-cell confocal and stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy, we show that ER-to-Golgi transport occurs via a dynamic network of tubules positive for the small GTPase ARF4. swCOPI machinery is tightly associated to this network and moves with tubular-vesicular structures. Strikingly, the ARF4 network appears to be continuous with the ER and ARF4 tubules remodel around static ER exit sites (ERES) defined by COPII machinery. We were further able to dissect the steps of ER-to-Golgi transport with functional trafficking assays. A wave of cargo released from the ER percolates through peripheral and Golgi-tethered ARF4 structures before filling the cis-Golgi. Perturbation via acute degradation of ARF4 shows an active regulatory role for the GTPase and COPI in anterograde transport. Our data supports a model in which anterograde ER-to-Golgi transport occurs via an ARF4 tubular-vesicular network directly connecting the ER and Golgi-associated pre-cisternae.

cell biology↗

Multi-functional ARF1 compartments serve as a hub for short-range cargo transfer to endosomes

Cellular membrane homeostasis is maintained via a tightly regulated membrane and cargo flow between organelles of the endocytic and secretory pathways. Adaptor protein complexes (APs), which are recruited to membranes by the small GTPase ARF1, facilitate cargo selection and incorporation into trafficking intermediates. According to the classical model, small vesicles would facilitate bi-directional long-range transport between the Golgi, endosomes and plasma membrane. Here we revisit the intracellular organization of the vesicular transport machinery using a combination of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, live-cell high temporal (fast-confocal) or spatial (stimulated emission depletion (STED)) microscopy as well as correlative light and electron microscopy. We characterize novel tubulo-vesicular ARF1 compartments that harbor clathrin and different APs. Our findings reveal two functionally different classes of ARF1 compartments, each decorated by a different combination of APs. Perinuclear ARF1 compartments facilitate Golgi export of secretory cargo, while peripheral ARF1 compartments are involved in endocytic recycling downstream of early endosomes. Contrary to the classical model of long-range vesicle shuttling, we observe that ARF1 compartments shed ARF1 and mature into recycling endosomes. This maturation process is impaired in the absence of AP-1 and results in trafficking defects. Collectively, these data highlight a crucial role for ARF1 compartments in post-Golgi sorting.

cell biology↗

Gene editing and super-resolution microscopy reveal multiple distinct roles for ARF GTPases in cellular membrane organization

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPases are major regulators of cellular membrane homeostasis. High sequence similarity and multiple, possible redundant functions of the five human ARFs make investigating their function a challenging task. To shed light on the roles of the different Golgi-localized ARF members in membrane trafficking, we generated CRISPR-Cas9 knock ins (KIs) of type I (ARF1 and ARF3) and type II ARFs (ARF4 and ARF5) and mapped their nanoscale localization with stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy. We find ARF1, ARF4 and ARF5 on segregated nano-domains on the cis-Golgi and ER-Golgi intermediate compartments (ERGIC), revealing distinct roles in COPI recruitment on early secretory membranes. Interestingly, ARF4 and ARF5 define Golgi-tethered ERGIC elements decorated by COPI and devoid of ARF1. Differential localization of ARF1 and ARF4 on distal ERGICs suggests the presence of functionally different classes of intermediate compartments that could regulate bi-directional transport between the ER and the Golgi. Furthermore, ARF1 and ARF3 localize to segregated nano-domains on the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and TGN-derived post-Golgi tubules, strengthening the idea of distinct roles in post-Golgi sorting. This work provides the first map of the nanoscale organization of human ARF GTPases on cellular membranes and sets the stage to dissect their numerous cellular roles.

cell biology↗

Sorting of secretory proteins at the trans-Golgi network by TGN46

Secretory proteins are sorted at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) for export into specific transport carriers. However, the molecular players involved in this fundamental process remain largely elusive. Here, we identified the human transmembrane protein TGN46 as a receptor for the export of secretory cargo protein PAUF in CARTS - a class of protein kinase D-dependent TGN-to-plasma membrane carriers. We show that TGN46 is necessary for cargo sorting and loading into nascent carriers at the TGN. By combining quantitative fluorescence microscopy and mutagenesis approaches, we further discovered that the lumenal domain of TGN46 encodes for its cargo sorting function. In summary, our results define a cellular function of TGN46 in sorting secretory proteins for export from the TGN.

cell biology↗