Trypanosoma brucei ARF1 plays a central role in endocytosis and golgi-lysosome trafficking

Mol Biol Cell. 2007 Mar;18(3):864-73. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e06-08-0736. Epub 2006 Dec 20.

Abstract

The ADP ribosylation factor (Arf)1 orthologue in the divergent eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei (Tb) shares characteristics with both Arf1 and Arf6 and has a vital role in intracellular protein trafficking. TbARF1 is Golgi localized in trypanosomes but associates with the plasma membrane when expressed in human cells. Depletion of TbARF1 by RNA interference causes a major decrease in endocytosis, which correlates with Rab5 dissociation from early endosomes. Although the Golgi remains intact, parasites display enlarged flagellar pockets and intracellular flagella. An increase in active GTP-bound TbARF1 in bloodstream parasites is rapidly lethal, correlating with a defect in Golgi-to-lysosome transport. We conclude that the essential Golgi-localizing T. brucei ARF1 has a primary role in the maintenance of both post-Golgi transport and endocytosis and that it is significantly divergent from other characterized ARFs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1 / deficiency
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1 / genetics
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Survival
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endocytosis*
  • Exocytosis
  • Gene Expression
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Microbodies / metabolism
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Interference
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / cytology
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / metabolism*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / ultrastructure
  • Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / metabolism

Substances

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • ARF6 protein, human