title: Fragmentation of a Golgi-localized chimeric protein allows detergent solubilization and reveals an alternate conformation of the cytoplasmic domain.
abstract: Golgi resident proteins maintain their localization despite a continual protein and lipid flux through the organelle. To study Golgi retention mechanisms, we have focused upon the chimeric protein Gm1. This protein contains the Golgi transmembrane domain targeting signal from the infectious bronchitis virus M protein and the lumenal and cytoplasmic domain of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV G). The Gm1 protein is targeted to the Golgi where it forms an unusually stable detergent-resistant oligomer. The formation of oligomeric structures may aid retention of Golgi resident proteins. Thus, determining the stabilization mechanism may shed light on Golgi protein retention. Previous work determined that the transmembrane domain is required for the targeting and oligomerization of Gm1, but it is the cytoplasmic tail that stabilizes the complexes [Weisz, O. A., Swift, A. M., and Machamer, C. E. (1993) J. Cell Biol. 122, 1185-1196]. However, further study of the oligomer has been difficult due to its insolubility. Here we report that fragmenting the Gm1 protein into several pieces facilitates solubilization by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). By analyzing the fragments produced after cleavage, we determined that the stability of the oligomer is not caused by covalent linkage of Gm1 to itself or other proteins. The fragment corresponding to the transmembrane domain and tail of Gm1 had an enhanced mobility in SDS gels relative to the same fragment of the parent VSV G protein. The enhanced migration of the tail fragment does not reflect sequence differences or post-translational modification, but correlates with Golgi localization and oligomerization. We suggest that the enhanced mobility of the Gm1 tail fragment reflects an altered conformation which serves to stabilize the detergent-resistant oligomers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sevier
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Machamer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D001351:Infectious bronchitis virus / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000235:genetics; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; C028391:G protein, vesicular stomatitis virus; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011108:Polymers; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D006596:Hexosaminidases