Sorting nexin (SNX) 1 and SNX2 are mammalian orthologs of Vps5p, a yeast protein that is a subunit of a large multimeric complex, termed the retromer complex, involved in retrograde transport of proteins from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. We report the cloning and characterization of human orthologs of three additional components of the complex: Vps26p, Vps29p, and Vps35p. The close structural similarity between the yeast and human proteins suggests a similarity in function. We used both yeast two-hybrid assays and expression in mammalian cells to define the binding interactions among these proteins. The data suggest a model in which hVps35 serves as the core of a multimeric complex by binding directly to hVps26, hVps29, and SNX1. Deletional analyses of hVps35 demonstrate that amino acid residues 1-53 and 307-796 of hVps35 bind to the coiled coil-containing domain of SNX1. In contrast, hVps26 binds to amino acid residues 1-172 of hVps35, whereas hVps29 binds to amino acid residues 307-796 of hVps35. Furthermore, hVps35, hVps29, and hVps26 have been found in membrane-associated and cytosolic compartments. Gel filtration chromatography of COS7 cell cytosol showed that both recombinant and endogenous hVps35, hVps29, and hVps26 coelute as a large complex ( approximately 220-440 kDa). In the absence of hVps35, neither hVps26 nor hVps29 is found in the large complex. These data provide the first insights into the binding interactions among subunits of a putative mammalian retromer complex.

The malarial parasite dramatically alters its host cell by exporting and targeting proteins to specific locations within the erythrocyte. Little is known about the mechanisms by which the parasite is able to carry out this extraparasite transport. The fungal metabolite brefeldin A (BFA) has been used to study the secretory pathway in eukaryotes. BFA treatment of infected erythrocytes inhibits protein export and results in the accumulation of exported Plasmodium proteins into a compartment that is at the parasite periphery. Parasite proteins that are normally localized to the erythrocyte membrane, to nonmembrane bound inclusions in the erythrocyte cytoplasm, or to the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane accumulate in this BFA-induced compartment. A single BFA-induced compartment is detected per parasite and the various exported proteins colocalize to this compartment regardless of their final destinations. Parasite membrane proteins do not accumulate in this novel compartment, but accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), suggesting that the parasite has two secretory pathways. This alternate secretory pathway is established immediately after merozoite invasion and at least some dense granule proteins also use the alternate pathway. The BFA-induced compartment exhibits properties that are similar to the ER, but it is clearly distinct from the ER. We propose to call this new organelle the secondary ER of apicomplexa. This ER-like organelle is an early, if not the first, step in the export of Plasmodium proteins into the host erythrocyte.

The monoterpene derivative, 2‐methylisoborneol (MIB), is produced by many blue‐green algae and often is responsible for the “musty” taste/odor in aquaculturally raised finfish and potable water supplies. Although previous researchers have suggested that taste/odor metabolites are partitioned among cell constituents and that coregulation with pigment biosynthesis occurs, no structural evidence for these hypotheses exists. MIB was localized in cells of Oscillatoria limosa (Roth) Agardh at the ultrastructural level using standard gold‐labeled antibody techniques. There was no apparent relationship between age of the cells and MIB synthesis; cells that were and were not undergoing active division had similar amounts of MIB label. There was no consistent partitioning of MIB label within cells. However, occasionally, specific label was observed along photosynthetic lamellae, suggesting a potential linkage of MIB synthesis and/or binding to the pigment systems.