Molecular organization of the COG vesicle tethering complex

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2010 Nov;17(11):1292-7. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.1917. Epub 2010 Oct 24.

Abstract

Multisubunit tethering complexes of the CATCHR (complexes associated with tethering containing helical rods) family are proposed to mediate the initial contact between an intracellular trafficking vesicle and its membrane target. To begin elucidating the molecular architecture of one well-studied example, the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, we reconstituted its essential subunits (Cog1, Cog2, Cog3 and Cog4) and used single-particle electron microscopy to reveal a y-shaped structure with three flexible, highly extended legs. Labeling experiments established that the N termini of all four subunits interact along the proximal segment of one leg, whereas three of the four C termini are located at the tips of the legs. Our results suggest that the central region of the Cog1-Cog2-Cog3-Cog4 complex, as well as the distal regions of at least two legs, all participate in interactions with other components of the intracellular trafficking machinery.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / chemistry
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / metabolism
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / ultrastructure
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Transport Vesicles / chemistry
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • COG2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • COG3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • COG4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cog1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins