RAB2 regulates the formation of autophagosome and autolysosome in mammalian cells

Autophagy. 2019 Oct;15(10):1774-1786. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1596478. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Abstract

Multiple sources contribute membrane and protein machineries to construct functional macroautophagic/autophagic structures. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that RAB2 connects the Golgi network to autophagy pathway by delivering membrane and by sequentially engaging distinct autophagy machineries. In unstressed cells, RAB2 resides primarily in the Golgi apparatus, as evidenced by its interaction and colocalization with GOLGA2/GM130. Importantly, autophagy stimuli dissociate RAB2 from GOLGA2 to interact with ULK1 complex, which facilitates the recruitment of ULK1 complex to form phagophores. Intriguingly, RAB2 appears to modulate ULK1 kinase activity to propagate signals for autophagosome formation. Subsequently, RAB2 switches to interact with autophagosomal RUBCNL/PACER and STX17 to further specify the recruitment of HOPS complex for autolysosome formation. Together, our study reveals a multivalent pathway in bulk autophagy regulation, and provides mechanistic insights into how the Golgi apparatus contributes to the formation of different autophagic structures. Abbreviations: ACTB: actin beta; ATG9: autophagy related 9A; ATG14: autophagy related 14; ATG16L1: autophagy related 16 like 1; BCAP31: B cell receptor associated protein 31; BECN1: beclin 1; Ctrl: control; CQ: chloroquine; CTSD: cathepsin D; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; EBSS: Earle's balanced salt solution; EEA1: early endosome antigen 1; GDI: guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GOLGA2: golgin A2; HOPS: homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex; IP: immunoprecipitation; KD: knockdown; KO: knockout; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; OE: overexpression; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; RAB2: RAB2A, member RAS oncogene family; RAB7: RAB7A, member RAS oncogene family; RAB11: RAB11A, member RAS oncogene family; RUBCNL/PACER: rubicon like autophagy enhancer; STX17: syntaxin 17; TBC1D14: TBC1 domain family member 14; TFRC: transferrin receptor; TGOLN2: trans-golgi network protein 2; TUBB: tubulin beta class I; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; VPS41: VPS41, HOPS complex subunit; WB: western blot; WT: wild type; YPT1: GTP-binding protein YPT1.

Keywords: Autophagosome; GOLGA2; Golgi apparatus; RAB2; RUBCNL; autolysosome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagosomes / metabolism*
  • Autophagy / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / genetics
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mammals
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein / physiology*

Substances

  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation under Grant 91754113 and 31771525 to Q.S. and 31500627 to Z.T., Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China under Grant 2017YFA0503402 to Q.S., the Zhejiang provincial Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists under Grant LR15C070001 to Q.S., and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant 2017FZA7014 to Q.S.