(A) Corin (green) and Rab11 proteins (red), including Rab11a, Rab11b, and dominant-negative (DN) mutants that were inhibitory to Rab11a and Rab11b, respectively, were co-expressed in MDCK cells. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy were used to analyze corin expression on apical and basolateral membranes, as indicated in X-Y and X-Z views. Each image represents the data from four experiments. Scale bars: 5 μm. (B) qRT-PCR analysis of Rab11a mRNA levels in MDCK cells transfected with two sets of shRNAs targeting the RAB11A gene (shRab11a1 and shRab11a2) or non-targeting control shRNAs (shNC). The data are mean ± SD from five experiments, analyzed by ANOVA. (C) Immunostaining of corin and CD320 in MDCK cells transfected with RAB11A-targeting shRNAs (shRab11a1 and shRab11b) or non-targeting shRNAs (shNC). X-Y and X-Z views are indicated. (D) A proposed model. Corin and CD320 (red dots) are transported from Golgi, likely via central recycling endosomes (CRE), to a Rab11a-positive sorting station, where the DSSDE motif is recognized for apical sorting via apical recycling endosomes (ARE) (left panel). Any pool of corin and CD320 that is endocytosed may also be re-sorted apically via Rab11a-positive endosomes. Mutations altering the DSSDE motif abolish such a mechanism, resulting in apical and basolateral expression of corin and CD320 mutants (right panel).
Figure 8—source data 1. Source data for Figure 8B.