In: Biology
A mutation in the Sar1-GEF gene causes the Sar1-GEF protein to be a soluble ER protein. What is the potential outcome?
a. Everything will be the same. No change.
b. Sar1-GDP will not be created.
c. COPII coated vesicles will not be created.
d. Vesicles destined for the cis-Golgi network will not be able to fuse with its target membrane.
Could someone expain this question? for instance if its not c, why not? isn't Sar1 responsible for building COATII vesicles, thanks a lot.
Yes, Sar1 (cytosolic) and Sar1-GEF (membrane-bound) are responsible for building COPII coated vesicles and yes, c is the correct answer. If Sar1-GEF becomes soluble it will be in the ER lumen and not membrane-bound, and hence not in a position to interact with cytosolic Sar1. Absence of this interaction means absence of COPII coated vesicles.
Sar1-GDP is created when Sar1-GTP hydrolyzes the GTP, which happens whenever a vesicle coat has to be disassembled, hence it has nothing to do with mutations in the Sar1-GEF.
First option is obviously wrong, and I don't know anything about the fourth.
Figure showing interaction of Sar1-GDP with Sar1-GEF. Interaction is possible only when Sar1-GEF is transmembrane.