The oxysterol binding protein (OSBP)-related proteins (ORPs) are conserved from yeast to man 1, 2 and are implicated in regulation of sterol pathways 3,4 and in signal transduction 5 . The structure of the full-length yeast ORP Osh4 was determined at 1.5-1.9 Å resolution in complexes with ergosterol, cholesterol, and 7-, 20-, and 25-hydroxycholesterol. A single sterol molecule binds in a hydrophobic tunnel in a manner consistent with a transport function for ORPs. The entrance is blocked by a flexible N-terminal lid and surrounded by functionally critical basic residues. The structure of the open state of a lid-truncated form of Osh4 was determined at 2.5 Å resolution. Structural analysis and limited proteolysis show that sterol binding closes the lid and stabilizes a conformation favoring transport across aqueous barriers and transmitting signals. The unliganded structure exposes potential phospholipid-binding sites that are positioned for membrane docking and sterol exchange. Based on these observations we propose a model in which sterol and membrane binding promote reciprocal conformational changes that facilitate a sterol transfer and signaling cycle.OSBP was first discovered 6,7 as a cytosolic receptor for oxysterols that downregulate cholesterol synthesis 8 . The cloning of OSBP 1 led to the identification of a large family of OSBP-related proteins, the ORPs, with 7 members in S. cerevisiase and 12 in H. sapiens 2 . ORPs are essential for life in eukaryotes. The deletion of all 7 ORPs leads to severe defects in sterol and lipid distribution and endocytosis in yeast 3,4 , and OSBP is essential for embryonic development in mice (M. Brown, personal communication). All ORPs contain a core OSBPrelated domain (ORD), and many also contain pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, transmembrane regions, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeting FFAT motifs, GOLD domains, and/or ankyrin repeats 2 . These additional domains localize ORPs by binding to phosphoinositides 9 , the ER protein VAP 10 , and other targeting signals. The localization of ORPs is dynamic. Oxysterol binding changes the subcellular localization of certain ORPs from the cytosol to the Golgi or ER 9,11 . ORPs can bind lipids other than oxysterols, including phosphoinositides and phosphatidic acid 12,13 . OSBP is a cholesterol sensing regulator of two protein phosphatases, a PTPPBS family member, and Ser/Thr phosphatase PP2A 5 .The structure of full-length Osh4 was determined by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined to a free R-factor of 23 % at 1.5 Å resolution (Supplementary Fig. 1 Table 1). Osh4 is built around a central antiparallel β-sheet of 19 strands (residues 115-293) which form a nearly complete β-barrel (Fig. 1a, Supplementary Fig. 2). The strands of the barrel are pitched at ~45 degrees to its axis. The barrel has structural similarity to the large β-barrels of various bacterial outer membrane transporters 14 as scored by Dali 15 ( Supplementary Fig. 3). There is no PH domain within the ORD 13 . A tunnel with largely hydrophobic walls...

Sterols are moved between cellular membranes by nonvesicular pathways whose functions are poorly understood. In yeast, one such pathway transfers sterols from the plasma membrane (PM) to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We show that this transport requires oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)–related proteins (ORPs), which are a large family of conserved lipid-binding proteins. We demonstrate that a representative member of this family, Osh4p/Kes1p, specifically facilitates the nonvesicular transfer of cholesterol and ergosterol between membranes in vitro. In addition, Osh4p transfers sterols more rapidly between membranes containing phosphoinositides (PIPs), suggesting that PIPs regulate sterol transport by ORPs. We confirmed this by showing that PM to ER sterol transport slows dramatically in mutants with conditional defects in PIP biosynthesis. Our findings argue that ORPs move sterols among cellular compartments and that sterol transport and intracellular distribution are regulated by PIPs.

Internalization of diverse transmembrane cargos from the plasma membrane requires a similarly diverse array of specialized adaptors, yet only a few adaptors have been characterized. We report the identification of the muniscin family of endocytic adaptors that is conserved from yeast to human beings. Solving the structures of yeast muniscin domains confirmed the unique combination of an N‐terminal domain homologous to the crescent‐shaped membrane‐tubulating EFC/F‐BAR domains and a C‐terminal domain homologous to cargo‐binding μ homology domains (μHDs). In vitro and in vivo assays confirmed membrane‐tubulation activity for muniscin EFC/F‐BAR domains. The μHD domain has conserved interactions with the endocytic adaptor/scaffold Ede1/eps15, which influences muniscin localization. The transmembrane protein Mid2, earlier implicated in polarized Rho1 signalling, was identified as a cargo of the yeast adaptor protein. These and other data suggest a model in which the muniscins provide a combined adaptor/membrane‐tubulation activity that is important for regulating endocytosis.

Analysis of nucleotide binding induced conformational changes in the current and previous HslU structures suggests a protein unfolding-coupled translocation mechanism. In this mechanism, unfolded polypeptides are threaded through the aligned pores of the ATPase and peptidase and translocated into the peptidase central chamber.

The functions of the minor phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P 2 ] during vegetative plant growth remain obscure. Here, we targeted two related phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PI4P 5-kinases) PIP5K1 and PIP5K2, which are expressed ubiquitously in Arabidopsis thaliana. A pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant with reduced PtdIns(4,5)P 2 levels showed dwarf stature and phenotypes suggesting defects in auxin distribution. The roots of the pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant had normal auxin levels but reduced auxin transport and altered distribution. Fluorescence-tagged auxin efflux carriers PIN-FORMED (PIN1)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) and PIN2-GFP displayed abnormal, partially apolar distribution. Furthermore, fewer brefeldin A-induced endosomal bodies decorated by PIN1-GFP or PIN2-GFP formed in pip5k1 pip5k2 mutants. Inducible overexpressor lines for PIP5K1 or PIP5K2 also exhibited phenotypes indicating misregulation of auxindependent processes, and immunolocalization showed reduced membrane association of PIN1 and PIN2. PIN cycling and polarization require clathrin-mediated endocytosis and labeled clathrin light chain also displayed altered localization patterns in the pip5k1 pip5k2 double mutant, consistent with a role for PtdIns(4,5)P 2 in the regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Further biochemical tests on subcellular fractions enriched for clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) indicated that pip5k1 and pip5k2 mutants have reduced CCV-associated PI4P 5-kinase activity. Together, the data indicate an important role for PtdIns(4,5)P 2 in the control of clathrin dynamics and in auxin distribution in Arabidopsis.

Transcriptional regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis in fungi is crucial for sterol homeostasis and for resistance to azole drugs. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Upc2 transcription factor activates the expression of related genes in response to sterol depletion by poorly understood mechanisms. We have determined the structure of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Upc2, which displays a novel a-helical fold with a deep hydrophobic pocket. We discovered that the conserved CTD is a ligand-binding domain and senses the ergosterol level in the cell. Ergosterol binding represses its transcription activity, while dissociation of the ligand leads to relocalization of Upc2 from cytosol to nucleus for transcriptional activation. The C-terminal activation loop is essential for ligand binding and for transcriptional regulation. Our findings highlight that Upc2 represents a novel class of fungal zinc cluster transcription factors, which can serve as a target for the developments of antifungal therapeutics.

ESCRT-II plays a pivotal role in receptor downregulation and multivesicular body biogenesis and is conserved from yeast to humans. The crystal structures of two human ESCRT-II complex structures have been determined at 2.6 and 2.9 A resolution, respectively. The complex has three lobes and contains one copy each of VPS22 and VPS36 and two copies of VPS25. The structure reveals a dynamic helical domain to which both the VPS22 and VPS36 subunits contribute that connects the GLUE domain to the rest of the ESCRT-II core. Hydrodynamic analysis shows that intact ESCRT-II has a compact, closed conformation. ESCRT-II binds to the ESCRT-I VPS28 C-terminal domain subunit through a helix immediately C-terminal to the VPS36-GLUE domain. ESCRT-II is targeted to endosomal membranes by the lipid-binding activities of both the Vps36 GLUE domain and the first helix of Vps22. These data provide a unifying structural and functional framework for the ESCRT-II complex.

The oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)-related proteins (ORPs) are conserved from yeast to humans, and implicated in the regulation of lipid homeostasis and in signaling pathways. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has seven ORPs (Osh1-Osh7) that share one unknown essential function. Here, we report the 1.5-2.3 Å structures of the PH domain and ORD (OSBP-related domain) of yeast Osh3 in apo-form or in complex with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI[4]P). Osh3 recognizes PI(4)P by the highly conserved residues in the tunnel of ORD whereas it lacks sterol binding due to the narrow hydrophobic tunnel. Yeast complementation tests suggest that PI(4)P binding to PH and ORD is essential for function. This study suggests that the unifying feature in all ORP homologs is the binding of PI(4)P to ORD and sterol binding is additional to certain homologs. Structural modeling of full-length Osh3 is consistent with the concept that Osh3 is a lipid transfer protein or regulator in membrane contact sites.