Biology subjects

Stagi, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Stagi, M..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

In silico modelling of human VPS13 proteins associated with donor and target membranes suggests lipid transfer mechanisms.

The VPS13 protein family constitutes a novel class of bridge-like lipid transferases. Autosomal recessive inheritance of mutations in VPS13 genes is associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Bioinformatic approaches previously recognised the domain architecture of these proteins. In this study, we model the first ever full-length structures of the four human homologs VPS13A, VPS13B, VPS13C, and VPS13D in association with model membranes, to investigate their lipid transfer ability and potential structural association with membrane leaflets. We analyse the evolutionary conservation and physicochemical properties of these proteins, focusing on conserved C-terminal amphipathic helices that disturb organelle surfaces and that, adjoined, resemble a traditional Venetian gondola. The gondola domains share significant structural homology with lipid droplet surface-binding proteins. We introduce in silico protein-membrane models displaying the mode of association of VPS13A, VPS13B, VPS13C, and VPS13D to donor and target membranes, and present potential models of action for protein-mediated lipid transfer.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Lowe Syndrome-linked endocytic adaptors direct membrane cycling kinetics with OCRL in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Mutations of the inositol 5-phosphatase OCRL cause Lowe Syndrome (LS), characterized by congenital cataract, low IQ and defective kidney proximal tubule resorption. A key subset of LS mutants abolishes OCRLs interactions with endocytic adaptors containing F&H peptide motifs. Converging unbiased methods examining human peptides and the unicellular phagocytic organism Dictyostelium discoideum, reveal that, like OCRL, the Dictyostelium OCRL orthologue Dd5P4 binds two proteins closely related to the F&H proteins APPL1 and Ses1/2 (also referred to as IPIP27A/B). In addition, a novel conserved F&H interactor was identified, GxcU (in Dictyostelium) and the Cdc42-GEF Frabin (in human cells). Examining these proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum, we find that, like OCRL, Dd5P4 acts at well-conserved and physically distinct endocytic stations. Dd5P4 functions in coordination with F&H proteins to control membrane deformation at multiple stages of endocytosis, and suppresses GxcU-mediated activity during fluid-phase micropinocytosis. We also reveal that OCRL/Dd5P4 acts at the contractile vacuole, an exocytic osmoregulatory organelle. We propose F&H peptide-containing proteins may be key modifiers of LS phenotypes.

cell biology↗