The Golgi entry core compartment functions as a COPII-independent scaffold for ER-to-Golgi transport in plant cells

ABSTRACT Many questions remain about how the stacked structure of the Golgi is formed and maintained. In our previous study, we challenged this question using tobacco BY-2 cells and revealed that, upon Brefeldin A (BFA) treatment, previously undescribed small punctate structures containing a particular subset of cis-Golgi proteins are formed adjacent to the ER-exit sites and act as scaffolds for Golgi regeneration after BFA removal. In this study, we analyzed these structures further. The proteins that localize to these punctate structures originate from the cis-most cisternae. 3D time-lapse observations show that the trans-Golgi marker is transported through these structures during Golgi regeneration. These data indicate that the cis-most cisternae have a specialized region that receives cargo from the ER, which becomes obvious upon BFA treatment. Expression of a dominant mutant form of SAR1 does not affect the formation of the punctate structures. We propose to call these punctate structures the ‘Golgi entry core compartment’ (GECCO). They act as receivers for the rest of the Golgi materials and are formed independently of the COPII machinery. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.