Cellular localization and trafficking of vascular adhesion protein-1 as revealed by an N-terminal GFP fusion protein

Chris J Weston, Emma L Shepherd, David H Adams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent studies of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) have greatly advanced our understanding of the important role this protein plays in the establishment and progression of inflammatory disease. To facilitate more detailed studies on the function of VAP-1, we developed a GFP-fusion protein that enabled us to monitor the trafficking of the protein in three selected cell types: hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, liver myofibroblasts and an hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2). The fusion protein was detected as punctate cytoplasmic GFP staining, but was present only at low levels at the cell surface in all cell types studied. The subcellular distribution of the protein was not altered in a catalytically inactive mutant form of the protein (Tyr471Phe) or in the presence of exogenous VAP-1 substrate (methylamine) or inhibitor (semicarbazide). The GFP-VAP-1 protein was localized to the Golgi apparatus (GM-130), endoplasmic reticulum (GRP94) and early endosomes (EEA-1). Additional staining for VAP-1 revealed that the overexpressed protein was also present in vesicles that were negative for GFP fluorescent signal and did not express EEA-1. We propose that these vesicles are responsible for recycling the fusion protein and that the fluorescence of the GFP moiety is quenched at the low pH within these vesicles. This feature of the protein makes it well suited for live cell imaging studies where we wish to track protein that is being actively trafficked within the cell in preference to that which is being recycled.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)951-61
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neural Transmission
Volume120
Issue number6
Early online date9 Mar 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)/genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum/drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
  • Ethylamines/pharmacology
  • Golgi Apparatus/drug effects
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Humans
  • Liver/cytology
  • Lysosome-Associated Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
  • Myoblasts/drug effects
  • Protein Transport/drug effects
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
  • Transfection
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins/metabolism

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