CARP2 regulates the Golgi dynamics upon EGF stimulation

Abstract Golgi apparatus regulate diverse cellular functions like protein sorting, vesicular trafficking, secretion, protein modifications like glycosylation etc. In mammalian cells though, Golgi apparatus appear as ribbon architecture, individual stacks laterally linked to each other by tubular structure, it’s architecture changes dynamically to cater to the needs of the cell under physiological and stress conditions. Loss of Golgi integrity is reported to be associated with pathological conditions like cancer and neurodegeneration. Very little is known of molecular regulators of Golgi dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that CARP2 (Caspase −8 and −10 associated RING containing protein 2), an endosomal ubiquitin ligase and a known regulator of cell migration, modulates the Golgi structure. Stimulation with EGF (Epidermal growth factor) modestly increased CARP2 protein levels. CARP2 exogenous expression or EGF treatment resulted in dispersal of the Golgi apparatus. Conversely, CARP2 deletion suppressed EGF induced Golgi dispersal. CARP2 variants that are defective in their endosomal-association or E3 ligase activity were unable to exhibit Golgi dispersal, indicating importance of both the endosomal localization and the E3 activity for this function. Importantly, we provide evidence that in EGF stimulated cells CARP2 mechanistically functions by targeting one of the Golgi structural proteins, Golgin45 for ubiquitination and degradation. Taken together, our findings unravel the existence of crosstalk between endosomal ubiquitin signaling and the Golgi dynamics. Significance The Golgi is an organelle that exists in mammals in ribbon form - individual stacks laterally linked with each other - is central to protein and lipid modifications, trafficking and secretion. The Golgi architecture is changed dynamically to cater to the physiological needs of the cells (eg: cell division, migration). Dysfunctional or altered Golgi is reported under pathological conditions like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases etc. This study unravels a complex signaling between endosomal ubiquitin ligase, CARP2 and one of the Golgi structural proteins, Golgin45. Here, we delineate CARP2-Golgin45 signaling as a fundamental mechanism that regulates Golgi dynamics underlying in EGF-stimulated cell migration.