Toxoplasma gondii Rab6 mediates a retrograde pathway for sorting of constitutively secreted proteins to the Golgi complex

J Biol Chem. 2003 Feb 14;278(7):5433-43. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M209390200. Epub 2002 Dec 4.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii relies on protein secretion from specialized organelles for invasion of host cells and establishment of a parasitophorous vacuole. We identify T. gondii Rab6 as a regulator of protein transport between post-Golgi dense granule organelles and the Golgi. Toxoplasma Rab6 was localized to cisternal rims of the late Golgi and trans-Golgi network, associated transport vesicles, and microdomains of dense granule and endosomal membranes. Overexpression of wild-type Rab6 or GTP-activated Rab6(Q70L) rerouted soluble dense granule secretory proteins to the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum and augmented the effect of brefeldin A on Golgi resorption to the endoplasmic reticulum. Parasites expressing a nucleotide-free (Rab6(N124I)) or a GDP-bound (Rab6(T25N)) mutant accumulated dense granule proteins in the Golgi and associated transport vesicles and displayed reduced secretion of GRA4 and a delay in glycosylation of GRA2. Activated Rab6 on Golgi membranes colocalized with centrin during mitosis, and parasite clones expressing Rab6 mutants displayed a partial shift in cytokinesis from endodyogeny (formation of two daughter cells) to endopolygeny (multiple daughter cells). We propose that Toxoplasma Rab6 regulates retrograde transport from post-Golgi secretory granules to the parasite Golgi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Golgi Apparatus / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Transport / physiology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / physiology
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Toxoplasma / physiology*
  • Toxoplasma / ultrastructure
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Rab6 protein
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF228419