Differential roles of syntaxin 7 and syntaxin 8 in endosomal trafficking

To understand molecular mechanisms that regulate the intricate and dynamic organization of the endosomal compartment, it is important to establish the morphology, molecular composition, and functions of the different organelles involved in endosomal trafficking. Syntaxins and vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) families, also known as soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), have been implicated in mediating membrane fusion and may play a role in determining the specificity of vesicular trafficking. Although several SNAREs, including VAMP3/cellubrevin, VAMP8/endobrevin, syntaxin 13, and syntaxin 7, have been localized to the endosomal membranes, their precise localization, biochemical interactions, and function remain unclear. Furthermore, little is known about SNAREs involved in lysosomal trafficking. So far, only one SNARE, VAMP7, has been localized to late endosomes (LEs), where it is proposed to mediate trafficking of epidermal growth factor receptor to LEs and lysosomes. Here we characterize the localization and function of two additional endosomal syntaxins, syntaxins 7 and 8, and propose that they mediate distinct steps of endosomal protein trafficking. Both syntaxins are found in SNARE complexes that are dissociated by alpha-soluble NSF attachment protein and NSF. Syntaxin 7 is mainly localized to vacuolar early endosomes (EEs) and may be involved in protein trafficking from the plasma membrane to the EE as well as in homotypic fusion of endocytic organelles. In contrast, syntaxin 8 is likely to function in clathrin-independent vesicular transport and membrane fusion events necessary for protein transport from EEs to LEs.