Endoplasmic reticulum export, subcellular distribution, and fibril formation by Pmel17 require an intact N-terminal domain junction.
Pmel17 is a melanocyte/melanoma-specific protein that subcellularly localizes to melanosomes, where it forms a fibrillar matrix that serves for the sequestration of potentially toxic reaction intermediates of melanin synthesis and deposition of the pigment. As a key factor in melanosomal biogenesis, understanding intracellular trafficking and processing of Pmel17 is of central importance to comprehend how these organelles are formed, how they mature, and how they function in the cell. Using a series of deletion and missense mutants of Pmel17, we are able to show that the integrity of the junction between the N-terminal region and the polycystic kidney disease-like domain is highly crucial for endoplasmic reticulum export, subcellular targeting, and fibril formation by Pmel17 and thus for establishing functional melanosomes.
Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA. ralf.leonhardt@yale.edu
Ralf M
RM
Leonhardt
Nathalie
N
Vigneron
Christoph
C
Rahner
Benoît J
BJ
Van den Eynde
Peter
P
Cresswell
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen
D008543:Melanins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C548637:PMEL protein, human; D058951:gp100 Melanoma Antigen