The minus-end-directed microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein powers the retrograde movement of membranous cargoes such as early endosomes, but the mechanism of motor-cargo interaction is unclear. The objective of this proposal is to dissect the interaction between dynein and early endosomes using the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans as a model system. In A. nidulans, dynein, dynactin and NUDF/LIS1 accumulate at the dynamic microtubule plus ends near the hyphal tip, where they engage early endosomes for their minus-end-directed transport. Loss of dynein, dynactin or NUDF/LIS1 impairs minus-end-directed transport, causing an abnormal buildup of early endosomes at the hyphal tip. Loss of NUDF/LIS1, which affects the movement of dynein-bound endosomes rather than dynein-endosome interaction, causes an obvious dynein-dynactin-early- endosome co-localization at the hyphal tip. Remarkably, deleting the gene encoding the p25 subunit of the dynactin complex in NUDF-null cells abolishes this localization. Moreover, p25 is unique among the analyzed dynactin components in that it is required for early endosome movement but not for dynein-mediated nuclear distribution, or the microtubule plus-end accumulation of dynein and dynactin. Based on these results, we hypothesize that p25 mediates the interaction between early endosomes and the dynactin-dynein supercomplex.
Specific Aim 1 is to determine the mechanism of p25 in binding dynactin-dynein to early endosomes. We will provide direct biochemical evidence that p25 is necessary for early-endosome-dynein interaction. We will determine whether p25 is sufficient for associating with early endosomes or if any other dynactin components are required to cooperate with p25 for its interaction with early endosomes. We will also perform a structure-function analysis on p25 to determine the amino acid residues required specifically for p25-dynactin interaction as well as those required for p25-early-endosome interaction.
Specific Aim 2 is to identify proteins that bridge and/or regulate the interaction between early endosomes and dynactin-dynein. We will perform a genome-wide screen for genes that are required for early-endosome-dynein interaction (eedi). The screen criteria prevent the re-isolation of genes in the dynein-mediated nuclear distribution pathway. To date, we have collected 20 eedi mutants, and the vast majority represents non-p25 alleles. We will organize the mutants in complementation groups and clone the eedi genes. We will also use imaging and biochemical approaches to further characterize the specific roles of these EEDI proteins.
Dynein-mediated retrograde movement of early endosomes that carry signaling molecules towards the nucleus is crucial for neuronal survival. Deficiencies in the dynein complex and the dynactin complex that interacts with dynein cause devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Perry syndrome.
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