The HOPS complex mediates autophagosome-lysosome fusion through interaction with syntaxin 17

Mol Biol Cell. 2014 Apr;25(8):1327-37. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-08-0447. Epub 2014 Feb 19.

Abstract

Membrane fusion is generally controlled by Rabs, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), and tethering complexes. Syntaxin 17 (STX17) was recently identified as the autophagosomal SNARE required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion in mammals and Drosophila. In this study, to better understand the mechanism of autophagosome-lysosome fusion, we searched for STX17-interacting proteins. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis identified vacuolar protein sorting 33A (VPS33A) and VPS16, which are components of the homotypic fusion and protein sorting (HOPS)-tethering complex. We further confirmed that all HOPS components were coprecipitated with STX17. Knockdown of VPS33A, VPS16, or VPS39 blocked autophagic flux and caused accumulation of STX17- and microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC3)-positive autophagosomes. The endocytic pathway was also affected by knockdown of VPS33A, as previously reported, but not by knockdown of STX17. By contrast, ultraviolet irradiation resistance-associated gene (UVRAG), a known HOPS-interacting protein, did not interact with the STX17-HOPS complex and may not be directly involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Collectively these results suggest that, in addition to its well-established function in the endocytic pathway, HOPS promotes autophagosome-lysosome fusion through interaction with STX17.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy-Related Proteins
  • Cell Fusion
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Lysosomes / immunology*
  • Membrane Fusion / genetics
  • Membrane Fusion / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / immunology
  • Phagosomes / immunology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / genetics
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Autophagy-Related Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Map1lc3b protein, mouse
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • STX17 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • UVRAG protein, human
  • VPS16 protein, human
  • VPS33A protein, human
  • VPS39 protein, human
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • FLAG peptide