The intracellular space of eukaryotic cells is subdivided into functionally distinct membrane-enclosed organelles. Regulation of these intracellular membranes requires an intricate network of specialized lipids and proteins that maintain organellar integrity and mediate transport between organelles. Proteins of the sorting nexin (SNX) family are membrane-binding regulators of transport events within the endomembrane system. The endomembrane system includes organelles associated with endocytic, secretory and degradative processes in the cell. The aims of this thesis were to functionally characterize SNX18 and SNX33, members of the SNX9-subfamily of sorting nexins, and to elucidate the role of SNX18 in autophagy. We demonstrated that all three proteins in the SNX9-family are capable of both membrane binding and remodeling, and interact with the membrane scission enzyme dynamin. We found that SNX18 localizes to endosomal structures in the endomembrane system, together with several identified factors previously described as regulators of endosomal transport. These results indicate that SNX18 mediates budding of membrane carriers in endosomal trafficking. In addition to this, knockdown of SNX18 in cultured cells was found to inhibit autophagy. Autophagy is a catabolic process by which cells degrade and recycle cellular components. It is a cellular response to various stress conditions such as oxidative stress, nutrient deprivation and infections. The components destined for degradation by autophagy are sequestered into a double-membrane structure called the autophagosome in which they are delivered to the lysosome. SNX18 interacts directly with proteins connected to autophagosome formation. Moreover, we demonstrated that the membrane-remodeling capability of SNX18 is a prerequisite for autophagosome formation. Taken together, our results lead to the conclusions that SNX18 remodels cellular membranes during formation of carriers for endosomal transport and that it is a positive regulator of autophagy and autophagosome formation.

Mitochondria are dynamic; they alter their shape through fission, fusion and budding of vesicles. Mitochondrial vesicles serve as a quality control mechanism enabling these organelles to rid themselves of damaged lipids and proteins. Dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, making the identification of molecules requisite for these processes a priority. We identified the endocytic protein, Sorting nexin 9 (Snx9) through a genome wide siRNA screen for genes which substantially alter mitochondrial morphology and therefore are important for its maintenance. In this work, the role of Snx9 in mitochondrial morphology is examined. Ultrastructural imaging of mitochondria within cells silenced for Snx9 revealed unbudded vesicles along a hyperfused mitochondrial reticulum suggesting a role for Snx9 in the release of these vesicles. The vesicular profiles contained concentric membranous whorls enriched for neutral lipids. Localization studies suggest the Parkinson’s disease genes, Parkin and Vps35 localize to the unbudded profiles.

Mitochondria are dynamic; they alter their shape through fission, fusion and budding of vesicles. Mitochondrial vesicles serve as a quality control mechanism enabling these organelles to rid themselves of damaged lipids and proteins. Dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, making the identification of molecules requisite for these processes a priority. We identified the endocytic protein, Sorting nexin 9 (Snx9) through a genome wide siRNA screen for genes which substantially alter mitochondrial morphology and therefore are important for its maintenance. In this work, the role of Snx9 in mitochondrial morphology is examined. Ultrastructural imaging of mitochondria within cells silenced for Snx9 revealed unbudded vesicles along a hyperfused mitochondrial reticulum suggesting a role for Snx9 in the release of these vesicles. The vesicular profiles contained concentric membranous whorls enriched for neutral lipids. Localization studies suggest the Parkinson’s disease genes, Parkin and Vps35 localize to the unbudded profiles.

Mitochondria are dynamic; they alter their shape through fission, fusion and budding of vesicles. Mitochondrial vesicles serve as a quality control mechanism enabling these organelles to rid themselves of damaged lipids and proteins. Dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, making the identification of molecules requisite for these processes a priority. We identified the endocytic protein, Sorting nexin 9 (Snx9) through a genome wide siRNA screen for genes which substantially alter mitochondrial morphology and therefore are important for its maintenance. In this work, the role of Snx9 in mitochondrial morphology is examined. Ultrastructural imaging of mitochondria within cells silenced for Snx9 revealed unbudded vesicles along a hyperfused mitochondrial reticulum suggesting a role for Snx9 in the release of these vesicles. The vesicular profiles contained concentric membranous whorls enriched for neutral lipids. Localization studies suggest the Parkinson’s disease genes, Parkin and Vps35 localize to the unbudded profiles.

No description available.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a process by which cells can internalise diverse molecules such as nutrients, antigens and signalling-surface receptors. The creation of clathrin-coated vesicles demands interplay between the plasma membrane lipids, cargo molecules and the proteins that build up the coat. This thesis deals with the identification and characterisation of sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) as a novel component of the endocytic machinery. SNX9 belongs to a large family of proteins based on the presence of a PX domain. In addition, SNX9 harbours an SH3 domain followed by a region with predicted low-complexity and a C-terminal BAR homology domain. Binding studies demonstrated that SNX9 interacted with the endocytic core components clathrin and AP-2 and dynamin-2, a GTPase known to be crucial for vesicle scission. The C-terminal region bound to phosphatidylinositols and targeted SNX9 to artificial liposomes and cellular membranes. Consistent with a role in endocytosis, a large portion of SNX9 co-localised with AP-2 and dynamin-2 but not with markers for early endosomes, Golgi. Over-expression of truncated variants of SNX9 in K562 and HeLa cells interfered with the uptake of transferrin. SNX9 recycles between a membrane-bound and a cytosolic pool. In cytosol, SNX9 formed a resting complex together with dynamin-2 and the metabolic enzyme aldolase. Activation for membrane binding involved ATP hydrolysis and correlated with phosphorylation of SNX9 and the release of aldolase. Aldolase bound to a tryptophan-containing acidic region near the clathrin and AP-2 motifs and blocked lipid binding of purified SNX9 derivatives. SNX9 was required for membrane targeting of dynamin2 in vitro and knockdown of SNX9 in HeLa cells by RNAi resulted in impaired membrane localisation. Together these results argue strongly for a role of SNX9 in recruiting and linking of dynamin-2 to sites of vesicle creation.

O vírus sincicial respiratório humano (HRSV) é o mais frequente agente patogênico da família Paramyxoviridae. Apesar de sua grande importância e impacto em saúde pública, alguns aspectos demandam elucidação. Entre eles, estão os mecanismos de tráfego intracelular de proteínas virais para o sitio de montagem. Baseado nisso, fizemos um estudo de imunofluorescência tentando contribuir para o entendimento da participação da via secretória no tráfego de proteínas estruturais de HRSV que não são glicosiladas: proteínas de matriz (M) e de nucleocapsídeo (N). Pudemos observar que essas proteínas seguem rota similar àquelas que são glicosiladas no Golgi, como a proteína de fusão (F). Ademais, as proteínas M e N, além de colocalizarem com proteínas celulares da via secretória, tais como trans-Golgi network-46 (TGN46) e sorting nexin-2 (SNX2), também influem no recrutamento de proteínas celulares para os corpos de inclusão virais, como mostrado no caso da proteína Glut1. Os dados indicam que proteínas M e N de HRSV seguem pela via endocítica inicial, acumulam-se em corpos de inclusão que seriam fábricas virais e, no caso de TGN46, podem ser incorporadas aos vírus em brotamento / Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the most relevant cause of respiratory infection in children worldwide. Despite its importance in public health, some aspects of the mechanisms of the trafficking of viral structural proteins remain unclear. In the present study, immunofluorescence was used to understand how the virus matrix (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, which are non-glycosylated , are addressed to inclusion bodies in Hep-2 cells (MOI=3). M and N proteins followed similar intracellular trafficking routes as compared to the glycosylated fusion (F) viral protein. Moreover, M and N proteins colocalized with two key elements of the secretory pathway: trans-Golgi network- 46 (TGN46) and sorting nexin-2 (SNX2). Viral proteins M and N appear to be involved in the recruitment of cell proteins at the formation of virus inclusion bodies, as shown for Glucose Transporter Type 1 (Glut1). The data suggest that HRSV M and N proteins follow the secretory pathway, initiating in early endosomes, as indicated by the co-localization with TGN46 and SNX2. In addition, these host cell proteins accumulate in inclusion bodies that are viral factories, and can be part of budding viral progeny. Therefore, HRSV M and N proteins, even though they are not glycosylated, take advantage of the secretory pathway to reach virus inclusion bodies. Confocal images suggest that SNX2, which is known for its membrane-deforming properties, could play a pivotal role in HRSV budding

O vírus sincicial respiratório humano (HRSV) é o mais frequente agente patogênico da família Paramyxoviridae. Apesar de sua grande importância e impacto em saúde pública, alguns aspectos demandam elucidação. Entre eles, estão os mecanismos de tráfego intracelular de proteínas virais para o sitio de montagem. Baseado nisso, fizemos um estudo de imunofluorescência tentando contribuir para o entendimento da participação da via secretória no tráfego de proteínas estruturais de HRSV que não são glicosiladas: proteínas de matriz (M) e de nucleocapsídeo (N). Pudemos observar que essas proteínas seguem rota similar àquelas que são glicosiladas no Golgi, como a proteína de fusão (F). Ademais, as proteínas M e N, além de colocalizarem com proteínas celulares da via secretória, tais como trans-Golgi network-46 (TGN46) e sorting nexin-2 (SNX2), também influem no recrutamento de proteínas celulares para os corpos de inclusão virais, como mostrado no caso da proteína Glut1. Os dados indicam que proteínas M e N de HRSV seguem pela via endocítica inicial, acumulam-se em corpos de inclusão que seriam fábricas virais e, no caso de TGN46, podem ser incorporadas aos vírus em brotamento / Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the most relevant cause of respiratory infection in children worldwide. Despite its importance in public health, some aspects of the mechanisms of the trafficking of viral structural proteins remain unclear. In the present study, immunofluorescence was used to understand how the virus matrix (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, which are non-glycosylated , are addressed to inclusion bodies in Hep-2 cells (MOI=3). M and N proteins followed similar intracellular trafficking routes as compared to the glycosylated fusion (F) viral protein. Moreover, M and N proteins colocalized with two key elements of the secretory pathway: trans-Golgi network- 46 (TGN46) and sorting nexin-2 (SNX2). Viral proteins M and N appear to be involved in the recruitment of cell proteins at the formation of virus inclusion bodies, as shown for Glucose Transporter Type 1 (Glut1). The data suggest that HRSV M and N proteins follow the secretory pathway, initiating in early endosomes, as indicated by the co-localization with TGN46 and SNX2. In addition, these host cell proteins accumulate in inclusion bodies that are viral factories, and can be part of budding viral progeny. Therefore, HRSV M and N proteins, even though they are not glycosylated, take advantage of the secretory pathway to reach virus inclusion bodies. Confocal images suggest that SNX2, which is known for its membrane-deforming properties, could play a pivotal role in HRSV budding