ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) have been implicated in vesicle transport in the Golgi complex. Employing yeast two-hybrid screening of an HL60 cDNA library using a constitutively active mutant of ARF3 (ARF3⅐Q71L), as a probe, we have identified a cDNA encoding a novel protein with a calculated molecular mass of 38.6 kDa, which we have named arfaptin 1. The mRNA of arfaptin 1 was ubiquitously expressed, and recombinant arfaptin 1 bound preferentially to class I ARFs, especially ARF1, but only in the GTP-bound form. The interactions were independent of myristoylation of ARF. Arfaptin 1 in cytosol was recruited to Golgi membranes by ARF in a guanosine 5 -O-(3-thiotriphosphate)-dependent and brefeldin A-sensitive manner. When expressed in COS cells, arfaptin 1 was localized to the Golgi complex. The yeast two-hybrid system yielded another clone, which encoded a putative protein, which we have named arfaptin 2. This consisted of the same number of amino acids as arfaptin 1 and was 60% identical to it. Arfaptin 2 was also ubiquitously expressed and bound to the GTP-, but not GDP-liganded form of class I ARFs, especially ARF1. These results suggest that arfaptins 1 and 2 may be direct target proteins of class 1 ARFs. Arfaptin 1 may be involved in Golgi function along with ARF1.

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in vesicle trafficking in the Golgi and hence secretion. In this study, we show that the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from HT 1080 human fibrosarcoma cells was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in a time-and dose-dependent manner that involved protein kinase C. The phorbol ester also increased PLD activity in the cells. Evidence that PLD was involved in the stimulation of MMP-9 secretion was provided by the observations that the secretion of MMP-9 was stimulated by the introduction of short-chain phosphatidic acid (PA) into the growth medium and that inhibition of PA production by 1-propanol inhibited secretion. Using a short-chain diacylglycerol we excluded the possibility that MMP-9 secretion was induced by diacylglycerol formed from PA by phosphatidic acid phosphatase. Furthermore, propranolol, an inhibitor of this enzyme, had no effect on secretion induced by either phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or PA. The data presented here indicate that activation of protein kinase C increases MMP-9 secretion in HT 1080 cells and implicate PLD and PA formation in the effect.

ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) regulate coatomer assembly on the Golgi as well as recruitment of clathrin adapter proteins and are therefore involved in vesicle budding from the Golgi and vesicular transport. They are also regulators of phospholipase D (PLD) activity. Arfaptin 1 is an ARF binding protein that inhibits PLD activation, vesicular trafficking and secretion. In the present report, we show that arfaptin 1 interacts with`high speed' membranes independently of ARF. However, addition of myristoylated ARF3 (myrARF3) increases the association of arfaptin 1 with the membranes, suggesting that arfaptin 1 and ARF form a complex on the Golgi. Utilizing several deletion mutants of arfaptin 1 it is shown that the association of arfaptin 1 with myrARF3 is mediated via two binding sites on arfaptin 1. These two domains are needed for arfaptin 1 inhibition of PLD activation by myrARF3 in vitro.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.