Phagocytosis is mediated by two-dimensional assemblies of the F-BAR protein GAS7

Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 18;10(1):4763. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12738-w.

Abstract

Phagocytosis is a cellular process for internalization of micron-sized large particles including pathogens. The Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs167 (BAR) domain proteins, including the FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domain proteins, impose specific morphologies on lipid membranes. Most BAR domain proteins are thought to form membrane invaginations or protrusions by assembling into helical submicron-diameter filaments, such as on clathrin-coated pits, caveolae, and filopodia. However, the mechanism by which BAR domain proteins assemble into micron-scale phagocytic cups was unclear. Here, we show that the two-dimensional sheet-like assembly of Growth Arrest-Specific 7 (GAS7) plays a critical role in phagocytic cup formation in macrophages. GAS7 has the F-BAR domain that possesses unique hydrophilic loops for two-dimensional sheet formation on flat membranes. Super-resolution microscopy reveals the similar assemblies of GAS7 on phagocytic cups and liposomes. The mutations of the loops abolishes both the membrane localization of GAS7 and phagocytosis. Thus, the sheet-like assembly of GAS7 plays a significant role in phagocytosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phagocytosis*
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Gas7 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms