Characterization of the Rab8-specific membrane traffic route linked to protrusion formation

Katarina Hattula, Johanna Furuhjelm, Jaana Tikkanen, Kimmo Tanhuanpää, Pirjo Maarit Laakkonen, Johan Peränen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    Rab8 has a drastic effect on cell shape, but the membrane trafficking route it regulates is poorly defined. Here, we show that endogenous and ectopically expressed Rab8 is associated with macropinosomes generated at ruffling membrane domains. These macropinosomes fuse or transform into tubules that move toward the cell center, from where they are recycled back to the leading edge. The biogenesis of these tubules is dependent on actin and microtubular dynamics. Expression of dominant-negative Rab8 mutants or depletion of Rab8 by RNA interference inhibit protrusion formation, but promote cell-cell adhesion and actin stress fiber formation, whereas expression of the constitutively active Rab8-Q67L has the opposite effect. Rab8 localization overlaps with both Rab11 and Arf6, and is functionally linked to Arf6. We also demonstrate that Rab8 activity is needed for the transport of transferrin and the transferrin receptor to the pericentriolar region and to cell protrusions, and that Rab8 controls the traffic of cholera toxin B to the Golgi compartment. Finally, Rab8 colocalizes and binds specifically to a synaptotagmin-like protein (SIp1/JFC1), which is involved in controlling Rab8 membrane dynamics. We propose that Rab8 regulates a membrane-recycling pathway that mediates protrusion formation.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Cell Science
    Volume119
    Pages (from-to)4866-4877
    Number of pages12
    ISSN0021-9533
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2006
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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