A Review of ADP-Ribosylation Factor-Like 1’s Role in Vesicular Trafficking and Autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

DP-ribosylation factor-like protein 1 (Arl1p) is a GTPase that functions in organelle recycling and membrane trafficking pathways within Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). By disturbing Arl1p’s protein interactions and creating arl1Δ mutants, researchers observed a loss of trans-Golgi network (TGN) structure, the unregulated production of endosomes, and an inability to move proteins to the cell membrane and recruit tethering proteins to the TGN for vesicle tethering and formation. Specifically, Arl1p was found to be necessary in the stress induced tethering of retrograde vesicles originating from early endosomes. This function in stress reduction is further seen through the role of Arl1p in macroautophagy. The GTPase has been found to work as a facilitator and as an independent pathway to Ypt6p, a GTPase protein with an independent pathway facilitating phagophore synthesis and vesicle fusion with Arl1p; with evidence suggesting Arl1p functions to promote central vacuole synthesis. These studies place Arl1p as a component of trans-Golgi structure, vesicle trafficking and autophagy pathways in S. cerevisiae.