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Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
A cell-free vesicle fusion assay that reproduces a subreaction in transport of pro-
-factor from
the ER to the Golgi complex has been used to fractionate yeast cytosol. Purified Sec18p, Uso1p, and LMA1 in
the presence of ATP and GTP satisfies the requirement for cytosol in fusion of ER-derived vesicles with Golgi
membranes. Although these purified factors are sufficient for vesicle docking and fusion, overall ER to
Golgi transport in yeast semi-intact cells depends on
COPII proteins (components of a membrane coat that
drive vesicle budding from the ER). Thus, membrane
fusion is coupled to vesicle formation in ER to Golgi
transport even in the presence of saturating levels of
purified fusion factors. Manipulation of the semi-intact
cell assay is used to distinguish freely diffusible ER-
derived vesicles containing pro-
-factor from docked
vesicles and from fused vesicles. Uso1p mediates vesicle docking and produces a dilution resistant intermediate. Sec18p and LMA1 are not required for the docking
phase, but are required for efficient fusion of ER-
derived vesicles with the Golgi complex. Surprisingly,
elevated levels of Sec23p complex (a subunit of the
COPII coat) prevent vesicle fusion in a reversible manner, but do not interfere with vesicle docking. Ordering
experiments using the dilution resistant intermediate
and reversible Sec23p complex inhibition indicate
Sec18p action is required before LMA1 function.
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