ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-facilitated recruitment of COP I to membranes is required for secretory traffic. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor GBF1 activates ARF and regulates ARF/COP I dynamics at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi interface. Like ARF and coatomer, GBF1 peripherally associates with membranes. ADP-ribosylation factor and coatomer have been shown to rapidly cycle between membranes and cytosol, but the membrane dynamics of GBF1 are unknown. Here, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to characterize the behavior of GFP-tagged GBF1. We report that GBF1 rapidly cycles between membranes and the cytosol (t 1/2 is approximately 17 AE 1 seconds). GBF1 cycles faster than GFP-tagged ARF, suggesting that in each round of association/dissociation, GBF1 catalyzes a single event of ARF activation, and that the activated ARF remains on membrane after GBF1 dissociation. Using three different approaches [expression of an inactive (E794K) GBF1 mutant, expression of the ARF1 (T31N) mutant with decreased affinity for GTP and Brefeldin A treatment], we show that GBF1 is stabilized on membranes when in a complex with ARF-GDP. GBF1 dissociation from ARF and membranes is triggered by its catalytic activity, i.e. the displacement of GDP and the subsequent binding of GTP to ARF. Our findings imply that continuous cycles of recruitment and dissociation of GBF1 to membranes are required for sustained ARF activation and COP I recruitment that underlies ER-Golgi traffic.

COPI recruitment to membranes appears to be essential for the biogenesis of the Golgi and for secretory trafficking. Preventing COPI recruitment by expressing inactive forms of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) or the ARF-activating guanine nucleotide exchange factor GBF1, or by treating cells with brefeldin A (BFA), causes the collapse of the Golgi into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and arrests trafficking of soluble and transmembrane proteins at the ER. Here, we assess COPI function in Golgi biogenesis and protein trafficking by preventing COPI recruitment to membranes by removing GBF1. We report that siRNA-mediated depletion of GBF1 causes COPI dispersal but does not lead to collapse of the Golgi. Instead, it causes extensive tubulation of the cis-Golgi. The Golgi-derived tubules target to peripheral ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) sites and create dynamic continuities between the ERGIC and the cis-Golgi compartment. COPI dispersal in GBF1-depleted cells causes dramatic inhibition of the trafficking of transmembrane proteins. Unexpectedly, soluble proteins continue to be secreted from GBF1-depleted cells. Our findings suggest that a secretory pathway capable of trafficking soluble proteins can be maintained in cells in which COPI recruitment is compromised by GBF1 depletion. However, the trafficking of transmembrane proteins through the existing pathway requires GBF1-mediated ARF activation and COPI recruitment.

The impact of muscarinic receptor stimulation was examined on apoptotic signaling induced by DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial impairment. Exposure of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to the DNA-damaging agent camptothecin increased p53 levels, activated caspase-3, and caused cell death. Pretreatment with oxotremorine-M, a selective agonist of muscarinic receptors that are expressed endogenously in these cells, did not affect the accumulation of p53 but greatly attenuated caspase-3 activation and protected from cell death to nearly the same extent as treatment with a general caspase inhibitor. Treatment with 50 -200 M H 2 O 2 caused the activation of caspase-3 beginning after 2-3 h, followed by eventual cell death. Oxotremorine-M pretreatment protected cells from H 2 O 2 -induced caspase-3 activation and death, and this was equivalent to protection afforded by a caspase inhibitor. Muscarinic receptor stimulation also protected cells from caspase-3 activation induced by exposure to rotenone, a mitochondrial complex 1 inhibitor, but no protection was evident from staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activation. The mechanism of protection afforded by muscarinic receptor activation from camptothecin-induced apoptotic signaling involved blockade of mitochondrial cytochrome c release associated with a bolstering of mitochondrial bcl-2 levels and blockade of the translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Likely the most proximal of these events to muscarinic receptor activation, mitochondrial Bax accumulation, also was attenuated by oxotremorine-M treatment after treatment with H 2 O 2 or rotenone. These results demonstrate that stimulation of muscarinic receptors provides substantial protection from DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial impairment, insults that may be encountered by neurons in development, aging, or neurodegenerative diseases. These findings suggest that neurotransmitter-induced signaling bolsters survival mechanisms, and inadequate neurotransmission may exacerbate neuronal loss.

Background: Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mediates clearance of blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Results:The region of complement-type repeats 2-5 in LDLR was identified as the binding site for FVIII and for ␣-2-macroglobulin receptor-associated protein (RAP). Conclusion: Binding sites of LDLR for FVIII, and also for RAP, were characterized. Significance: This provides new data on LDLR structure and function and on FVIII catabolism.

Five secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMP-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5) have been characterized in mammalian cells. Previously, SCAMP-1 and -2 have been implicated to function in exocytosis. RNA inhibitor-mediated deficiency of one or both of these SCAMPs interferes with dense core vesicle (DCV) exocytosis in neuroendocrine PC12 cells as detected by amperometry. Knockdowns of these SCAMPs each decreased the number and frequency of depolarization-induced exocytotic events. SCAMP-2 but not SCAMP-1 depletion also delayed the onset of exocytosis. Both knockdowns, however, altered fusion pore dynamics, increasing rapid pore closure and decreasing pore dilation. In contrast, knockdowns of SCAMP-3 and -5 only interfered with the frequency of fusion pore opening and did not affect the dynamics of newly opened pores. None of the knockdowns noticeably affected upstream events, including the distribution of DCVs near the plasma membrane and calcium signaling kinetics, although norepinephrine uptake/storage was moderately decreased by deficiency of SCAMP-1 and -5. Thus, SCAMP-1 and -2 are most closely linked to the final events of exocytosis. Other SCAMPs collaborate in regulating fusion sites, but the roles of individual isoforms appear at least partially distinct.