The targeting of lysosomal transmembrane (TM) proteins from the Golgi apparatus to lysosomes is a complex process that is only beginning to be understood. Here, the lysosomal targeting of mucolipin-1 (Mcoln1), the TM protein defective in the autosomal recessive disease, mucolipidosis type IV, was studied by overexpressing full-length and truncated forms of the protein in human cells, followed by detection using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. We demonstrated that a 53-amino acid C-terminal region of Mcoln1 is required for efficient exit from the Golgi. Truncations lacking this region exhibited reduced delivery to lysosomes and decreased proteolytic cleavage of Mcoln1 into characteristic ∼35-kDa fragments, suggesting that this cleavage occurs in lysosomes. In addition, we found that the co-expression of full-length Mcoln1 with kinase-inactive protein kinase D (PKD) 1 or 2 inhibited Mcoln1 Golgi exit and transport to lysosomes and decreased Mcoln1 cleavage. These studies suggest that PKDs play a role in the delivery of some lysosomal resident TM proteins from the Golgi to the lysosomes.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.