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Article
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology  12, 38 - 45 (2004)
Published online: 19 December 2004; | doi:10.1038/nsmb871

Crystal structure of bet3 reveals a novel mechanism for Golgi localization of tethering factor TRAPP

Yeon-Gil Kim1, Eun Ju Sohn2, Jawon Seo3, Kong-Joo Lee3, Heung-Soo Lee4, Inhwan Hwang2, Malcolm Whiteway5, Michael Sacher6 & Byung-Ha Oh1

1  Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Life Science and Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, Korea.

2  Center for Plant Intracellular Trafficking, Department of Life Science and Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, Korea.

3  Center for Cell Signaling Research, Division of Molecular Life Sciences and College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120-750, Korea.

4  Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, Korea.

5  Biotechnology Research Institute, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4P 2R2.

6  Montreal Proteomics Network, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4P 2R2.

Correspondence should be addressed to Byung-Ha Oh bhoh@postech.ac.kr or Michael Sacher michael.sacher@bri.nrc.ca
Transport protein particle (TRAPP) is a large multiprotein complex involved in endoplasmic reticulum−to−Golgi and intra-Golgi traffic. TRAPP specifically and persistently resides on Golgi membranes. Neither the mechanism of the subcellular localization nor the function of any of the individual TRAPP components is known. Here, the crystal structure of mouse Bet3p (bet3), a conserved TRAPP component, reveals a dimeric structure with hydrophobic channels. The channel entrances are located on a putative membrane-interacting surface that is distinctively flat, wide and decorated with positively charged residues. Charge-inversion mutations on the flat surface of the highly conserved yeast Bet3p led to conditional lethality, incorrect localization and membrane trafficking defects. A channel-blocking mutation led to similar defects. These data delineate a molecular mechanism of Golgi-specific targeting and anchoring of Bet3p involving the charged surface and insertion of a Golgi-specific hydrophobic moiety into the channels. This essential subunit could then direct other TRAPP components to the Golgi.

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Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
ISSN: 1545-9993
EISSN: 1545-9985
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