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  • The EMBO Journal (2008) 27, 934 - 947
  • doi:10.1038/emboj.2008.40

Published online: 6 March 2008

ZFPL1, a novel ring finger protein required for cis-Golgi integrity and efficient ER-to-Golgi transport

Chi-Fang Chiu1,23, Yashoda Ghanekar1,24, Laura Frost1,2, Aipo Diao1,5, Daniel Morrison1, Eddie McKenzie1 and Martin Lowe1

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, The Michael Smith Building, Manchester, UK

Correspondence to:

Martin Lowe, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, The Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. Tel.: +44 161 275 5387; Fax: +44 161 275 1505. E-mail: martin.lowe@manchester.ac.uk

2These authors contributed equally to this work

3Present address: Biotechnology Division, Oriental Dyes and Chemical Inc., Taipei, Taiwan

4Present address: LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India

5Present address: Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

Received 11 January 2008; Accepted 14 February 2008

The Golgi apparatus occupies a central position within the secretory pathway, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for its assembly and organization remain poorly understood. We report here the identification of zinc finger protein-like 1 (ZFPL1) as a novel structural component of the Golgi apparatus. ZFPL1 is a conserved and widely expressed integral membrane protein with two predicted zinc fingers at the N-terminus, the second of which is a likely ring domain. ZFPL1 directly interacts with the cis-Golgi matrix protein GM130. Depletion of ZFPL1 results in the accumulation of cis-Golgi matrix proteins in the intermediate compartment (IC) and the tubulation of cis-Golgi and IC membranes. Loss of ZFPL1 function also impairs cis-Golgi assembly following brefeldin A washout and slows the rate of cargo trafficking into the Golgi apparatus. Effects upon Golgi matrix protein localization and cis-Golgi structure can be rescued by wild-type ZFPL1 but not mutants defective in GM130 binding. Together, these data suggest that ZFPL1 has an important function in maintaining the integrity of the cis-Golgi and that it does so through interactions with GM130.

  • Keywords:

    • GM130,
    • Golgi apparatus,
    • Golgi matrix,
    • intermediate compartment,
    • ZFPL1