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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
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Quantitative Localization of a Golgi Protein by Imaging Its Center of Fluorescence Mass
Published on: August 10, 2017
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Golgi-Resident Gαo Promotes Protrusive Membrane Dynamics
Gonzalo P Solis1, Oleksii Bilousov1, Alexey Koval1
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Cell
|August 15, 2017
Summary
A novel signaling pathway involving Gαo protein regulates cell protrusion formation. This pathway, conserved across species, controls material delivery from the Golgi to the plasma membrane for neurite growth.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cellular protrusions like neurites are crucial for cell function and require coordinated induction and growth.
- Cytoskeletal rearrangements at the plasma membrane (PM) drive protrusion induction, while directed material delivery fuels growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the Gαo-subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins in cell protrusion formation.
- To identify the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways regulating directed material delivery from the Golgi to the PM.
Main Methods:
- Localization studies of Gαo at the PM and Golgi.
- Identification of Gαo interactors using multidimensional screenings (>250 identified).
- Investigating the KDELR → Gαo → Rab1/3 signaling axis in various cell types and model organisms.
Main Results:
- Gαo localizes to both the PM and Golgi, with distinct roles in protrusion induction and material delivery, respectively.
- Golgi-resident KDELR activates monomeric Gαo, a novel mechanism for G protein signaling.
- Gαo directly regulates vesicular trafficking and effector proteins Rab1 and Rab3.
Conclusions:
- A conserved signaling axis (KDELR → Gαo → Rab1/3) controls Golgi-to-PM material transport essential for cell protrusion formation.
- This pathway is critical for neurite outgrowth and other cellular processes requiring directed trafficking across diverse species.
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