Review
Plant Sciences
Yumei Shi, Changxin Luo, Yun Xiang, Dong Qian
Summary: Cell plates are temporary structures formed by the fusion of vesicles at the center of the dividing plane. These structures are precursors to new cell walls and are crucial for cytokinesis. The process of cell plate formation involves cytoskeletal rearrangement, vesicle accumulation and fusion, and membrane maturation. Factors such as Rab GTPases, tethers, and SNAREs play essential roles in this process and their mutations result in defective cytokinesis phenotypes in plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Timothy R. Keiffer, Sarah Soorya, Martin J. Sapp
Summary: This review will summarize the recent advances in understanding HPV16 entry, focusing on its role in the pathogenesis of various important cancers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karina Schneider, Theresa Farr, Niko Pinter, Kerstin Schmitt, Oliver Valerius, Gerhard H. Braus, Joerg Kaemper
Summary: Early endosomes play important roles in long distance transport of cargoes in filamentous fungi, controlled by specific membrane-bound proteins such as Rab5 and tethering complexes like CORVET. In Ustilago maydis, Rab5a recruits CORVET to early endosomes, with Nma1 protein modulating the lifespan of early endosomes to ensure their availability for transportation processes.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mario Pinar, Miguel A. Penalva
Summary: RAB GTPases, as major determinants of membrane identity, have been widely used as specific reporters for studying intracellular traffic. Systematic studies on their localization and physiological role, particularly in Aspergillus nidulans, have influenced the field of intracellular trafficking beyond fungal specialists. These studies have revealed important roles of RABs in intracellular traffic.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noah J. Harris, Meredith L. Jenkins, Udit Dalwadi, Kaelin D. Fleming, Sung-Eun Nam, Matthew A. H. Parson, Calvin K. Yip, John E. Burke
Summary: Transport Protein Particle complexes (TRAPP) are highly conserved regulators of membrane trafficking, with distinct TRAPPII and TRAPPIII complexes showing specificity towards different Rab GTPases. Biochemical assays, HDX-MS, and electron microscopy were used to study the regulation of TRAPPII and TRAPPIII complexes, revealing differences in GEF activity, protein dynamics, and membrane association. The results provide insights into the functions of TRAPP complexes and their mechanisms of achieving Rab specificity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Elena Morelli, Elisa A. Speranza, Enrica Pellegrino, Galina Beznoussenko, Francesca Carminati, Massimiliano Garre, Alexander A. Mironov, Marco Onorati, Thomas Vaccari
Summary: Snap29 is a crucial regulator of membrane fusion, essential for cellular processes such as autophagy and cell division. Mutations in Snap29 can lead to alterations in Golgi apparatus and disrupted ER to GA trafficking, revealing a new regulatory function of Snap29 in promoting secretory trafficking.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Carolina Camelo, Anna Korte, Thea Jacobs, Stefan Luschnig
Summary: This study reveals the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the developing lumen of tracheal tubes in Drosophila embryos. The formation and functions of EVs are regulated by GTPases Arl3, Rab27, and Rab35. These findings are important for understanding the role of EVs in vivo.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Julia Hesselbarth, Carla Schmidt
Summary: The SNARE complex is composed of vesicular Synaptobrevin-2, Syntaxin-1, and SNAP25, and it mediates fusion between synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic plasma membrane. This study investigates the stepwise assembly of the SNARE complex and its interactions with Complexin-1 using native mass spectrometry and chemical cross-linking. The results provide insights into the stoichiometry of intermediates and off-pathway complexes, as well as the regulation of complex assembly by Complexin-1.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Chuchu Zhou, Zhe Wu, Wanqing Du, Huilin Que, Yufen Wang, Qinqin Ouyang, Fenglei Jian, Weigang Yuan, Yuan Zhao, Rui Tian, Ying Li, Yang Chen, Shuaixin Gao, Catherine C. L. Wong, Yueguang Rong
Summary: This study reveals a process called autophagosomal components recycling (ACR) and identifies the SNX4-SNX5-SNX17 complex that mediates the recycling of autophagosomal components from autolysosomes.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chenchen Mi, Li Zhang, Guoqiang Huang, Guangcan Shao, Fan Yang, Xin You, Meng-Qiu Dong, Shan Sun, Sen-Fang Sui
Summary: This study presents cryo-EM structures of yeast TRAPPII in apo and Ypt32-bound states, revealing a dimeric architecture assembled by two triangle-shaped monomers. The Ypt32-bound monomer captures the closed conformation and interacts with core TRAPP/TRAPPI, Trs120, and Trs31. These structures provide insights into the assembly of TRAPPII and the mechanism of Ypt31/Ypt32 activation by TRAPPII.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiumin Yan, Yidong Shen
Summary: Primary cilia are important sensory organelles in cells, with intraflagellar transport essential for their assembly, maintenance, and function. Recent studies have highlighted the critical regulatory roles of three ciliary Rab-like small GTPases in ciliary BBSome transport.
Article
Cell Biology
Jieqiong Gao, Raffaele Nicastro, Marie-Pierre Peli-Gulli, Sophie Grziwa, Zilei Chen, Rainer Kurre, Jacob Piehler, Claudio De Virgilio, Florian Froehlich, Christian Ungermann
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of SEs in maintaining cellular homeostasis during cell growth and proliferation. The function of the HOPS tethering complex is crucial for maintaining the identity of SEs and the activity of TORC1 on cell membranes.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Guangyan Miao, Hongyu Zhao, Yan Li, Mingming Ji, Yong Chen, Yi Shi, Yuhai Bi, Peihui Wang, Hong Zhang
Summary: ORF3a of the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 inhibits autophagy activity by blocking fusion of autophagosomes/amphisomes with lysosomes. This leads to accumulation of autophagosomes/amphisomes, impaired lysosome function, and ultimately blocks autophagy process.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Erik S. Linklater, Emily D. Duncan, Ke-Jun Han, Algirdas Kaupinis, Mindaugas Valius, Traci R. Lyons, Rytis Prekeris
Summary: Loss of binding between Rab40b and Cullin5 leads to decreased cell motility and invasive potential, primarily due to alterations in the actin cytoskeleton. These changes are mediated by EPLIN, resulting in modifications to focal adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics that promote cell migration and invasion.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jachen A. Solinger, Anne Spang
Summary: Intercellular communication is a necessary process in multicellular organisms, where molecules secreted by one cell bind to a receptor on another cell. The fate of the receptor-ligand complex and other endocytosed proteins is determined by the cell, with the majority being recycled back to the plasma membrane and the rest being degraded in the lysosome. This review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanism behind recycling cargo sorting and proposes a model of differential affinities between cargo and cargo receptors/adaptors for iterative sorting in endosomes.
Article
Cell Biology
Janina Laborenz, Yury S. Bykov, Katharina Knoeringer, Markus Raeschle, Sabine Filker, Cristina Prescianotto-Baschong, Anne Spang, Takashi Tatsuta, Thomas Langer, Zuzana Storchova, Maya Schuldiner, Johannes M. Herrmann
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of the endoplasmic reticulum protein Ema19 in mitochondrial protein targeting, promoting the degradation of nonproductive precursor proteins. Deletion of Ema19 improves the growth of respiration-deficient cells, indicating a competitive relationship between Ema19-mediated degradation and productive protein import into mitochondria. Ema19, a member of a conserved protein family, also has a human homologue known as sigma 2 receptor or TMEM97.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hirohisa Chiyoda, Masahiko Kume, Carla Cadena del Castillo, Kenji Kontani, Anne Spang, Toshiaki Katada, Masamitsu Fukuyama
Summary: The PTR-18 protein plays a critical role in clearing extracellular hedgehog-related proteins and maintaining quiescence of progenitor cells. Both PTR-18 and GRL-7 proteins are localized around the apical membrane of cells in late embryonic stages and targeted for degradation before hatching.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Bottanelli, Anne Spang, Chris Stefan, Christian Ungermann
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
David Z. Kochan, Julia S. P. Mawer, Jennifer Massen, Kiril Tishinov, Swati Parekh, Martin Graef, Anne Spang, Peter Tessarz
Summary: The study reveals that Puf5 plays a crucial role in post-transcriptional buffering, helping to balance the dysregulation of chromatin structure and transcription to maintain optimal mRNA levels.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carla E. Cadena del Castillo, J. Thomas Hannich, Andres Kaech, Hirohisa Chiyoda, Jonathan Brewer, Masamitsu Fukuyama, Nils J. Faergeman, Howard Riezman, Anne Spang
Summary: The study reveals that the hedgehog signaling receptor PTCH functions as a cholesterol transporter. Reduction in PTCH activity leads to cellular cholesterol accumulation, resulting in changes in nuclear hormone receptor activity and fatty acid metabolism. This sheds light on the role of PTCH in maintaining organelle structure and fat metabolism.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jennifer D. Cohen, Carla E. Cadena del Castillo, Nicholas D. Serra, Andres Kaech, Anne Spang, Meera Sundaram
Summary: The study focused on the role of PTR-4, a Patched-related protein, in Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing its involvement in the assembly of the precuticle matrix and its localization at the apical side of certain epithelial cells. Defects in PTR-4 lead to abnormalities in cuticle and molting, possibly due to earlier disorganization in the precuticle layer.
Article
Biology
Anna L. L. Matos, Fabian Keller, Tristan Wegner, Carla Elizabeth Cadena del Castillo, David Grill, Sergej Kudruk, Anne Spang, Frank Glorius, Andreas Heuer, Volker Gerke
Summary: The study characterizes previously developed cholesterol analogues, named CHIMs, which can replace cholesterol functionally in cell membranes, visualize cholesterol dynamics in cells, and follow cholesterol trafficking pathways in live organisms.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Kiril Tishinov, Anne Spang
Summary: Translation repressor Scd6 and decapping stimulator Edc3 partially redundantly regulate P-body assembly by sequestering the Dcp1/2 decapping complex in the cytoplasm. Nuclear Dcp1/2 is not involved in mRNA decay and might be stored as a releasable pool, indicating a dynamic equilibrium between cytoplasmic and nuclear Dcp1/2.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Maria Podinovskaia, Cristina Prescianotto-Baschong, Dominik P. Buser, Anne Spang
Summary: This study introduces a novel live-cell imaging assay for monitoring endosome maturation process, applicable to various types of mammalian cells. It was found that different endosome conversion processes and acidification relied on different factors. This assay serves as a powerful tool to further unravel various aspects of endosome maturation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jachen Solinger, Harun-Or Rashid, Anne Spang
Summary: Cellular organization, compartmentalization, and cell-to-cell communication rely on endosomal pathways, and FERARI plays a crucial role in coordinating these pathways and regulating cargo flow through sorting endosomes via a kiss-and-run mechanism.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jachen A. Solinger, Anne Spang
Summary: Intercellular communication is a necessary process in multicellular organisms, where molecules secreted by one cell bind to a receptor on another cell. The fate of the receptor-ligand complex and other endocytosed proteins is determined by the cell, with the majority being recycled back to the plasma membrane and the rest being degraded in the lysosome. This review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanism behind recycling cargo sorting and proposes a model of differential affinities between cargo and cargo receptors/adaptors for iterative sorting in endosomes.
Article
Cell Biology
Viktoria Szentgyoergyi, Anne Spang
Summary: Cargo delivery in cellular organelles relies on the fusion of vesicles with the help of tethering factors. Recent studies show that tethers play a significant role in membrane fusion, and the discovery of novel tether FERARI complex has changed our understanding of cargo transport.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Dominik P. Buser, Anne Spang
Summary: Retrograde transport is crucial for recycling protein and lipid cargoes, including receptors, enzymes, and transporters, from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. Different sorting machineries are involved in this process, selectively recognizing and concentrating the cargo molecules. Understanding and analyzing these transport pathways are essential for studying intracellular trafficking.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Biology
Anna L. L. Matos, Fabian Keller, Tristan Wegner, Carla Elizabeth Cadena del Castillo, David Grill, Sergej Kudruk, Anne Spang, Frank Glorius, Andreas Heuer, Volker Gerke
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Anne Spang
Summary: Eukaryotic cells are complex factories that have developed intracellular communication systems to ensure productivity and functionality, as well as communication with their environment. In recent years, there has been a shift in the understanding of intracellular communication towards a more holistic view, with touching, kissing, fusing emerging as general principles of communication between organelles.
