Simple in vitro assay of Arf GAPs and preparation of Arf proteins as substrates.

Defining the interaction of Arf GAPs with specific Arfs is important for understanding their functions in the endocytic system. Cell-based approaches have been valuable for identifying Arfs and Arf GAPs active in the endocytic compartment; however, the cell-based assays have some limitations in establishing relationships among the Arfs and ArfGAPs. Here we describe a simple in vitro assay that will provide a means for comparing Arfs as substrates and serve to complement cell-based studies.

Biochemical methods for studying kinetic regulation of Arf1 activation by Sec7.

The ADP ribosylation factor (Arf) family of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) regulates vesicular transport at several locations within the cell, and is in turn regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) via a conserved catalytic domain, termed the Sec7 domain. The catalytic activity of the Sec7 domain is well characterized in the context of a few GEFs acting at the periphery of the cell. This chapter describes the techniques used to extend the biochemical analysis of activity to the much larger GEFs acting on the Arf family in the core secretory pathway, using the activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sec7 on Arf1, regulating export from the trans-Golgi network, as a model. The complete methods for purification to near homogeneity of all proteins required, including several Sec7 constructs and multiple relevant small GTPases, are detailed. These are followed by methods for the quantification of the nucleotide exchange activity of Sec7 in a physiologically relevant context, including modifications required to dissect the signal integration functions of Sec7 as an effector of several other small GTPases, and methods for identifying stable Sec7-small GTPase interactions in the presence of membranes. These techniques may be extended to the analysis of similar members of the Sec7 GEF subfamily in other species and acting elsewhere in the secretory pathway.

Expression, purification and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of Arf1-GDP in complex with dimeric p23 peptide.

Arf1 is a member of the Ras superfamily and is involved in COPI vesicle formation. Arf1-GDP can interact with dimeric p23. Here, human Arf1 (residues 18-181) was cloned, expressed and purified in Escherichia coli. For crystallization, Arf1-GDP was mixed with dimeric p23 peptide in a 1:5 molar ratio. Crystals were obtained which diffracted to 2.7 Šresolution. The crystals belonged to space group P6122, with unit-cell parameters a=b=80.6, c=336.0 Å, α=ß=90, γ=120°. The asymmetric unit of the crystals contained two molecules, with a Matthews coefficient of 3.2 Å3 Da(-1) and a solvent content of 61.9%.

Cargo-sorting signals promote polymerization of adaptor protein-1 in an Arf-1.GTP-independent manner.

Adaptor protein-1 (AP-1) is recruited onto the trans-Golgi network via binding to Arf-1.GTP, cargo-sorting signals and phosphoinositides, where it orchestrates the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicular carriers that transport cargo molecules to endosomes. Here we show that cytosolic AP-1 polymerizes when recruited onto enriched Golgi membranes and liposomes containing covalently attached cargo-sorting signal peptides. Incubation of cytosolic or purified AP-1 with soluble sorting signal peptides also resulted in AP-1 polymerization, showing that Arf-1.GTP and membranes are not required for this process. We propose that cargo-induced polymerization of AP-1 contributes to stabilization of the coat complex in the formation of clathrin-coated buds.

Preparation of myristoylated Arf1 and Arf6.

Arf proteins are members of the Arf family of small Ras-like GTP binding proteins. Six Arfs, grouped into three classes, have been identified in mammalian cells and three members have been identified in yeasts. Arf1 and Arf6, more extensively studied than other Arfs, have been found to affect membrane traffic and actin remodeling. A structural feature that distinguishes Arfs from other Ras superfamily members is an N-terminal alpha-helix, extending from the basic G-protein fold, which is cotranslationally myristoylated. Both the helix and the myristate affect biochemical properties of Arfs, including nucleotide exchange, membrane association, and interaction with some effector proteins. Preparation of myristoylated Arf for in vitro studies of Arf function requires consideration of both the reaction yielding myristoylated protein and the properties of the modified Arfs. Here, we describe methods that yield homogeneous preparations of myristoylated Arf1 and Arf6.

ARF1.GTP, tyrosine-based signals, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate constitute a minimal machinery to recruit the AP-1 clathrin adaptor to membranes.

At the trans-Golgi network, clathrin coats containing AP-1 adaptor complexes are formed in an ARF1-dependent manner, generating vesicles transporting cargo proteins to endosomes. The mechanism of site-specific targeting of AP-1 and the role of cargo are poorly understood. We have developed an in vitro assay to study the recruitment of purified AP-1 adaptors to chemically defined liposomes presenting peptides corresponding to tyrosine-based sorting motifs. AP-1 recruitment was found to be dependent on myristoylated ARF1, GTP or nonhydrolyzable GTP-analogs, tyrosine signals, and small amounts of phosphoinositides, most prominently phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, in the absence of any additional cytosolic or membrane bound proteins. AP-1 from cytosol could be recruited to a tyrosine signal independently of the lipid composition, but the rate of recruitment was increased by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The results thus indicate that cargo proteins are involved in coat recruitment and that the local lipid composition contributes to specifying the site of vesicle formation.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase alpha is a downstream effector of the small G protein ARF6 in membrane ruffle formation.

Synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], a signaling phospholipid, is primarily carried out by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase [PI(4)P5K], which has been reported to be regulated by RhoA and Rac1. Unexpectedly, we find that the GTPgammaS-dependent activator of PI(4)P5Kalpha is the small G protein ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and that the activation strictly requires phosphatidic acid, the product of phospholipase D (PLD). In vivo, ARF6, but not ARF1 or ARF5, spatially coincides with PI(4)P5Kalpha. This colocalization occurs in ruffling membranes formed upon AIF4 and EGF stimulation and is blocked by dominant-negative ARF6. PLD2 similarly translocates to the ruffles, as does the PH domain of phospholipase Cdelta1, indicating locally elevated PI(4,5)P2. Thus, PI(4)P5Kalpha is a downstream effector of ARF6 and when ARF6 is activated by agonist stimulation, it triggers recruitment of a diverse but interactive set of signaling molecules into sites of active cytoskeletal and membrane rearrangement.