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An NSF function distinct from ATPase-dependent SNARE disassembly is essential for Golgi membrane fusion

Nature Cell Biology volume 1, pages 335–340 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The precise biochemical role of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) in membrane fusion mediated by SNARE proteins is unclear. To provide further insight into the function of NSF, we have introduced a mutation into mammalian NSF that, in Drosophila dNSF-1, leads to temperature-sensitive neuroparalysis. This mutation is like the comatose mutation and renders the mammalian NSF temperature sensitive for fusion of postmitotic Golgi vesicles and tubules into intact cisternae. Unexpectedly, at the temperature that is permissive for membrane fusion, this mutant NSF binds to, but cannot disassemble, SNARE complexes and exhibits almost no ATPase activity. A well-charaterized NSF mutant containing an inactivating point mutation in the catalytic site of its ATPase domain is equally active in the Golgi-reassembly assay. These data indicate that the need for NSF during postmitotic Golgi membrane fusion may be distinct from its ATPase-dependent ability to break up SNARE pairs.

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Figure 1: Fusion of postmitotic Golgi membranes in the presence of wild-type NSF or NSF(G274E).
Figure 2: Stability of NSF complexes and NSF at different temperatures.
Figure 3: Disassembly of 20S complexes containing synaptic or Golgi SNAREs.
Figure 4: ATPase activity of the NSF proteins.
Figure 5: Negative staining of wild-type and mutant NSF in the presence of different nucleotides.
Figure 6: Cisternal regrowth in the presence of ATPase catalytic-site mutants of NSF.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Whiteheart for providing the CHO NSF cDNA; N. Bishop and P. Woodman for providing the D1 and D2 ATPase mutants; T. Söllner for the purified anti-GOS-28 antibodies; M. Lowe for purified p115; and H. Meyer and M. Lowe for critical reading of the manuscript. J.M.M.M. was supported by the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds.

Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.T.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell Biology Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund , 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK

    Joyce M. M. Müller, Catherine Rabouille, James Shorter, Graham Warren & David T. Shima

  2. Molecular Structure Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK

    Richard Newman & Paul Freemont

  3. Molecular Neuropathobiology Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK

    Giampietro Schiavo

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Müller, J., Rabouille, C., Newman, R. et al. An NSF function distinct from ATPase-dependent SNARE disassembly is essential for Golgi membrane fusion. Nat Cell Biol 1, 335–340 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/14025

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