Meta-Biol

• Pathways

Retrograde traffic from the cis-Golgi to the ERGIC or the ER is mediated in part by microtubule-directed COPI-coated vesicles (Letourneur et al, 1994; Shima et al, 1999; Spang et al, 1998; reviewed in Lord et al, 2013; Spang et al, 2013). These assemble at the cis side of the Golgi in a GBF-dependent fashion and are tethered at the ER by the ER-specific SNAREs and by the conserved NRZ multisubunit tethering complex, known as DSL in yeast (reviewed in Tagaya et al, 2014; Hong and Lev, 2014). Typical cargo of these retrograde vesicles includes 'escaped' ER chaperone proteins, which are recycled back to the ER for reuse by virtue of their interaction with the Golgi localized KDEL receptors (reviewed in Capitani and Sallese, 2009; Cancino et al, 2013).

The secretory membrane system allows a cell to regulate delivery of newly synthesized proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids to the cell surface, a necessity for growth and homeostasis. The system is made up of distinct organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi complex, plasma membrane, and tubulovesicular transport intermediates. These organelles mediate intracellular membrane transport between themselves and the cell surface. Membrane traffic within this system flows along highly organized directional routes. Secretory cargo is synthesized and assembled in the ER and then transported to the Golgi complex for further processing and maturation. Upon arrival at the trans Golgi network (TGN), the cargo is sorted and packaged into post-Golgi carriers that move through the cytoplasm to fuse with the cell surface. This directional membrane flow is balanced by retrieval pathways that bring membrane and selected proteins back to the compartment of origin.

The transit of proteins and other cargo through the cell requires a cellular transport process in which transported substances are moved in membrane-bounded vesicles. Transported substances are enclosed in the vesicle lumen or located in the vesicle membrane. The transport process begins with the formation of the vesicle itself, often triggered by the interaction of the cargo with the vesicle formation machinery. Vesicular transport pathways can include vesicle formation, coating, budding, uncoating and target membrane fusion depending upon the function of the pathway described. Vesicle-mediated transport occurs from within cell via ER and Golgi transport, as well as functioning in the endocytosis of material taken into the cell via scavenger receptors.