Protrudin serves as an adaptor molecule that connects KIF5 and its cargoes in vesicular transport during process formation

Mol Biol Cell. 2011 Dec;22(23):4602-20. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E11-01-0068. Epub 2011 Oct 5.

Abstract

Neurons are highly polarized cells with long neurites. Vesicular transport is required for neurite extension. We recently identified protrudin as a key regulator of vesicular transport during neurite extension. Expression of protrudin in nonneuronal cells thus induces formation of neurite-like membrane protrusions. We adopted a proteomics approach to identify proteins that associate with protrudin. Among the protrudin-associated proteins, including many with a function related to intracellular trafficking, we focused on KIF5, a motor protein that mediates anterograde vesicular transport in neurons. A coimmunoprecipitation assay confirmed that endogenous protrudin and KIF5 interact in mouse brain. Overexpression of KIF5 induced the formation of membrane protrusions in HeLa cells, reminiscent of the effect of protrudin overexpression. Forced expression of both protrudin and KIF5 promoted protrusion extension in a synergistic manner, whereas depletion of either protein attenuated protrusion formation. Protrudin facilitated the interaction of KIF5 with Rab11, VAP-A and -B, Surf4, and RTN3, suggesting that protrudin serves as an adaptor protein and that the protrudin-KIF5 complex contributes to the transport of these proteins in neurons. Given that mutation of protrudin or KIF5 is a cause of human hereditary spastic paraplegia, the protrudin-KIF5 axis appears to be integral to neuronal function.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurites / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats
  • Red Fluorescent Protein
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • KIF5A protein, human
  • Kif1b protein, mouse
  • Kif5A protein, mouse
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RTN3 protein, human
  • RTN3 protein, rat
  • SURF4 protein, human
  • VAPA protein, human
  • VAPB protein, mouse
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • ZFYVE27 protein, human
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • protrudin protein, mouse
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Kif5b protein, mouse
  • rab11 protein
  • Kinesins
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins