The ufmylation cascade controls COPII recruitment, anterograde transport, and sorting of nascent GPCRs at ER

Sci Adv. 2024 Jun 21;10(25):eadm9216. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adm9216. Epub 2024 Jun 21.

Abstract

Ufmylation is implicated in multiple cellular processes, but little is known about its functions and regulation in protein trafficking. Here, we demonstrate that the genetic depletion of core components of the ufmylation cascade, including ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1), UFM1 activation enzyme 5, UFM1-specific ligase 1 (UFL1), UFM1-specific protease 2, and UFM1-binding protein 1 (UFBP1) each markedly inhibits the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi transport, surface delivery, and recruitment to COPII vesicles of a subset of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and UFBP1's function partially relies on UFM1 conjugation. We also show that UFBP1 and UFL1 interact with GPCRs and UFBP1 localizes at COPII vesicles coated with specific Sec24 isoforms. Furthermore, the UFBP1/UFL1-binding domain identified in the receptors effectively converts non-GPCR protein transport into the ufmylation-dependent pathway. Collectively, these data reveal important functions for the ufmylation system in GPCR recruitment to COPII vesicles, biosynthetic transport, and sorting at ER via UFBP1 ufmylation and interaction directly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • COP-Coated Vesicles* / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum* / metabolism
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport*
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • UFM1 protein, human
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Proteins