In eukaryotic cells, vesicle trafficking is the principle mechanism by which materials are transported between membrane bound compartments or to the plasma membrane, and it is tightly regulated to ensure that cargo is delivered to the correct destination at the correct time. Our effort is directed at understanding the molecular basis for this regulation, and we propose to investigate instances of both spatial and temporal regulation, focusing on events as the vesicle arrives at the acceptor compartment. We bring to bear structural biology, biochemical and biophysical approaches.
In Aim 1 we investigate how guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) recognize and activate members of the Rab family of small GTPases, which play a key role in defining organelle identity and hence in ensuring correct cargo delivery. We focus on how the DENN-domain proteins, a major family of GEFs in higher eukaryotes, interact with their Rab partners. The crystal structure determination of a DENN-domain/Rab complex is well underway and, together with kinetic and thermodynamic studies, will elucidate recognition and activation mechanisms.
In Aim 2, we study how complexes in the TRAPP family, tethering factors that act in vesicle recognition at the acceptor compartment, are localized to different compartments as different subunits are added to a shared core. An important aspect of this work is the determination of the structure for TRAPPIII or a TRAPPIII subcomplex. Intact TRAPPIII as well as key subcomplexes have been reconstituted. Low resolution electron microscopy reconstructions have been obtained for the intact complex and initial crystallization conditions identified for a subcomplex. Lastly, in Aim 3 we examine how specialized proteins in nerve cells regulate the assembly of SNARE complexes, which drive vesicle fusion and cargo delivery, so that neurotransmitter is released only in response to an action potential. We will determine how the synaptic proteins complexin and synaptotagmin regulate SNARE assembly at the plasma membrane. We have determined a crystal structure of complexin bound to a mimetic of a pre-fusion SNARE complex that explains how SNARE assembly can be clamped, pending an action potential, and propose further studies aimed at understanding clamping and clamp release.

Public Health Relevance

Membrane traffic is a fundamental biological process for organelle formation, nutrient uptake, and the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. It is central to release in many areas of endocrine and exocrine physiology, and imbalances in these processes give rise to more than 50 human diseases, including diabetes. Additionally, many pathogens hijack membrane traffic mechanisms in order to proliferate and ensure their survival, so that an understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying membrane traffic is essential for protecting against these pathogens.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM080616-08
Application #
8826758
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
2007-08-01
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2015-04-01
Budget End
2016-03-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$351,568
Indirect Cost
$136,568
Name
Yale University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06510
Horenkamp, Florian A; Valverde, Diana P; Nunnari, Jodi et al. (2018) Molecular basis for sterol transport by StART-like lipid transfer domains. EMBO J 37:
Lees, Joshua A; Messa, Mirko; Sun, Elizabeth Wen et al. (2017) Lipid transport by TMEM24 at ER-plasma membrane contacts regulates pulsatile insulin secretion. Science 355:
Reinisch, Karin M; De Camilli, Pietro (2016) SMP-domain proteins at membrane contact sites: Structure and function. Biochim Biophys Acta 1861:924-927
Chou, Hui-Ting; Dukovski, Danijela; Chambers, Melissa G et al. (2016) CATCHR, HOPS and CORVET tethering complexes share a similar architecture. Nat Struct Mol Biol 23:761-3
Saheki, Yasunori; Bian, Xin; Schauder, Curtis M et al. (2016) Control of plasma membrane lipid homeostasis by the extended synaptotagmins. Nat Cell Biol 18:504-15
Baskin, Jeremy M; Wu, Xudong; Christiano, Romain et al. (2016) The leukodystrophy protein FAM126A (hyccin) regulates PtdIns(4)P synthesis at the plasma membrane. Nat Cell Biol 18:132-8
Horenkamp, Florian A; Kauffman, Karlina J; Kohler, Lara J et al. (2015) The Legionella Anti-autophagy Effector RavZ Targets the Autophagosome via PI3P- and Curvature-Sensing Motifs. Dev Cell 34:569-76
Krishnakumar, Shyam S; Li, Feng; Coleman, Jeff et al. (2015) Re-visiting the trans insertion model for complexin clamping. Elife 4:
Cai, Yiying; Deng, Yongqiang; Horenkamp, Florian et al. (2014) Sac1-Vps74 structure reveals a mechanism to terminate phosphoinositide signaling in the Golgi apparatus. J Cell Biol 206:485-91
Horenkamp, Florian A; Mukherjee, Shaeri; Alix, Eric et al. (2014) Legionella pneumophila subversion of host vesicular transport by SidC effector proteins. Traffic 15:488-99

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