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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 142, Number 3, August 10, 1998 683-696
Department of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
In polarized HepG2 cells, the fluorescent
sphingolipid analogues of glucosylceramide (C6-NBD-GlcCer) and sphingomyelin (C6-NBD-SM) display a
preferential localization at the apical and basolateral domain, respectively, which is expressed during apical
to basolateral transcytosis of the lipids (van IJzendoorn, S.C.D., M.M.P. Zegers, J.W. Kok, and D. Hoekstra. 1997. J. Cell Biol. 137:347-457). In the present
study we have identified a non-Golgi-related, sub-apical compartment (SAC), in which sorting of the lipids
occurs. Thus, in the apical to basolateral transcytotic
pathway both C6-NBD-GlcCer and C6-NBD-SM accumulate in SAC at 18°C. At this temperature, transcytosing IgA also accumulates, and colocalizes with the
lipids. Upon rewarming the cells to 37°C, the lipids are
transported from the SAC to their preferred membrane
domain. Kinetic evidence is presented that shows in a
direct manner that after leaving SAC, sphingomyelin
disappears from the apical region of the cell, whereas GlcCer is transferred to the apical, bile canalicular
membrane. The sorting event is very specific, as the
GlcCer epimer C6-NBD-galactosylceramide, like C6-NBD-SM, is sorted in the SAC and directed to the basolateral surface. It is demonstrated that transport of
the lipids to and from SAC is accomplished by a vesicular mechanism, and is in part microtubule dependent.
Furthermore, the SAC in HepG2 bear analogy to the
apical recycling compartments, previously described in MDCK cells. However, in contrast to the latter, the
structural integrity of SAC does not depend on an intact microtubule system. Taken together, we have identified a non-Golgi-related compartment, acting as a
"traffic center" in apical to basolateral trafficking and
vice versa, and directing the polarized distribution of
sphingolipids in hepatic cells.
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