Golgi-resident small GTPase Rab33B interacts with Atg16L and modulates autophagosome formation

Mol Biol Cell. 2008 Jul;19(7):2916-25. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e07-12-1231. Epub 2008 Apr 30.

Abstract

Macroautophagy is a mechanism of degradation of cytoplasmic components in all eukaryotic cells. In macroautophagy, cytoplasmic components are wrapped by double-membrane structures called autophagosomes, whose formation involves unique membrane dynamics, i.e., de novo formation of a double-membrane sac called the isolation membrane and its elongation. However, the precise regulatory mechanism of isolation membrane formation and elongation remains unknown. In this study, we showed that Golgi-resident small GTPase Rab33B (and Rab33A) specifically interacts with Atg16L, an essential factor in isolation membrane formation, in a guanosine triphosphate-dependent manner. Expression of a GTPase-deficient mutant Rab33B (Rab33B-Q92L) induced the lipidation of LC3, which is an essential process in autophagosome formation, even under nutrient-rich conditions, and attenuated macroautophagy, as judged by the degradation of p62/sequestosome 1. In addition, overexpression of the Rab33B binding domain of Atg16L suppressed autophagosome formation. Our findings suggest that Rab33 modulates autophagosome formation through interaction with Atg16L.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Autophagy-Related Proteins
  • COS Cells
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phagosomes / metabolism*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • ATG16L1 protein, human
  • Atg16l1 protein, mouse
  • Autophagy-Related Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • RAB33B protein, human
  • Rab33B protein, mouse
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins