The AFF-1 exoplasmic fusogen is required for endocytic scission and seamless tube elongation

Nat Commun. 2018 May 1;9(1):1741. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04091-1.

Abstract

Many membranes must merge during cellular trafficking, but fusion and fission events initiating at exoplasmic (non-cytosolic) membrane surfaces are not well understood. Here we show that the C. elegans cell-cell fusogen anchor-cell fusion failure 1 (AFF-1) is required for membrane trafficking events during development of a seamless unicellular tube. EGF-Ras-ERK signaling upregulates AFF-1 expression in the excretory duct tube to promote tube auto-fusion and subsequent lumen elongation. AFF-1 is required for scission of basal endocytic compartments and for apically directed exocytosis to extend the apical membrane. Lumen elongation also requires the transcytosis factor Rab11, but occurs independently of dynamin and clathrin. These results support a transcytosis model of seamless tube lumen growth and show that cell-cell fusogens also can play roles in intracellular membrane trafficking events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Fusion*
  • Endocytosis / physiology*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Signal Transduction
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • AFF-1 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • ras Proteins