Selective targeting of plasma membrane and tonoplast traffic by inhibitory (dominant-negative) SNARE fragments

Matthew Tyrrell, Prisca Campanoni, Jens Uwe Sutter, Réjane Pratelli, Manuel Paneque, Sergei Sokolovski, Michael R. Blatt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Vesicle traffic underpins cell homeostasis, growth and development in plants, and is facilitated by a superfamily of proteins known as SNAREs [soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptors] that interact to draw vesicle and target membrane surfaces together for fusion. Structural homologies, biochemical and genetic analyses have yielded information about the localization and possible roles of these proteins. However, remarkably little evidence is yet available that speaks directly to the functional specificities of these proteins in selected trafficking pathways in vivo. Previously, we found that expressing a cytosolic (so-called Sp2) fragment of one plasma membrane SNARE from tobacco and Arabidopsis had severe effects on growth, tissue development and secretory traffic to the plasma membrane. We have explored this dominant-negative approach further to examine the specificity and overlaps in Sp2 activity by generating a toolbox of truncated SNARE constructs and antibodies for transient expression and analysis. Using a quantitative ratiometric approach with secreted green fluorescent protein (secGFP), we report here that traffic to the plasma membrane is suppressed selectively by Sp2 fragments of plasma membrane SNAREs AtSYP121 and AtSYP122, but not of the closely related SNARE AtSYP111 nor of the SNARE AtSYP21 that resides at the pre-vacuolar compartment (PVC). By contrast, traffic of the YFP-tagged aquaporin fusion protein TIP1;1-YFP to the tonoplast was blocked (leading to its accumulation in the PVC) when co-expressed with the Sp2 fragment of AtSYP21, but not when co-expressed with that of AtSYP121. Export of secGFP was also sensitive to the Sp2 fragment of the novel, plant-specific SNARE AtSYP71 that was recently found to be present in detergent-resistant, plasma membrane fractions. Co-incubation analyses of the plasma membrane SNAREs with the regulatory subdomain included within the Sp2 fragments showed activity in destabilizing protein complexes, but only with the complementary SNAREs. We conclude that the Sp2 fragment action accurately reflects the known specificity and targeting of these SNAREs, implies functional overlaps that are of potential physiological interest, and underscores the use of a dominant-negative strategy in functional studies of a major subfamily of SNAREs in plants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1099-1115
Number of pages17
JournalPlant Journal
Volume51
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007

Keywords

  • Arabidopsis thaliana
  • Endoplasmic reticulum
  • Membrane vesicle traffic
  • Nicotiana tabacum
  • Secreted GFP
  • Tonoplast intrinsic protein

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Selective targeting of plasma membrane and tonoplast traffic by inhibitory (dominant-negative) SNARE fragments'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this