Molecular mechanism to recruit galectin-3 into multivesicular bodies for polarized exosomal secretion

S Bänfer, D Schneider, J Dewes… - Proceedings of the …, 2018 - National Acad Sciences
S Bänfer, D Schneider, J Dewes, MT Strauss, SA Freibert, T Heimerl, UG Maier, HP Elsässer…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018National Acad Sciences
The beta-galactoside binding lectin galectin-3 (Gal3) is found intracellularly and in the
extracellular space. Secretion of this lectin is mediated independently of the secretory
pathway by a not yet defined nonclassical mechanism. Here, we found Gal3 in the lumen of
exosomes. Superresolution and electron microscopy studies visualized Gal3 recruitment
and sorting into intraluminal vesicles. Exosomal Gal3 release depends on the endosomal
sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT-I) component Tsg101 and functional Vps4a …
The beta-galactoside binding lectin galectin-3 (Gal3) is found intracellularly and in the extracellular space. Secretion of this lectin is mediated independently of the secretory pathway by a not yet defined nonclassical mechanism. Here, we found Gal3 in the lumen of exosomes. Superresolution and electron microscopy studies visualized Gal3 recruitment and sorting into intraluminal vesicles. Exosomal Gal3 release depends on the endosomal sorting complex required for transport I (ESCRT-I) component Tsg101 and functional Vps4a. Either Tsg101 knockdown or expression of dominant-negative Vps4aE228Q causes an intracellular Gal3 accumulation at multivesicular body formation sites. In addition, we identified a highly conserved tetrapeptide P(S/T)AP motif in the amino terminus of Gal3 that mediates a direct interaction with Tsg101. Mutation of the P(S/T)AP motif results in a loss of interaction and a dramatic decrease in exosomal Gal3 secretion. We conclude that Gal3 is a member of endogenous non-ESCRT proteins which are P(S/T)AP tagged for exosomal release.
National Acad Sciences