Mechanistic insights into the role of LEPROTs and COPI retrograde transport in regulating Golgi morphology

This study investigates the role of COPI-mediated retrograde transport, regulated by transmembrane cargo receptors LEPROT/LEPROTL1 (LEPROTs), in maintaining the structural homeostasis of the Golgi ribbon. By specifically blocking COPI- or AP-1-mediated trafficking pathways in HeLa cells through siRNA interference or CRISPR/Cas9 gene deletion, and utilizing confocal microscopy for "Golgi Angle" quantitative analysis alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for observing Golgi ultrastructure and peri-Golgi vesicle density, the research systematically reveals that active COPI retrograde transport is a critical factor in restricting Golgi ribbon over-extension and maintaining its compact morphology. This work successfully elucidates the molecular mechanism by which LEPROTs and GOLPH3 cooperatively promote the recycling and vesiculation of COPI components, thereby imposing structural constraints at the Golgi periphery and providing significant experimental evidence for the membrane trafficking dynamics of organelle morphological homeostasis. As a regulatory strategy based on membrane flux balance, this research possesses substantial value for understanding Golgi morphological maintenance. This dataset primarily includes raw data and related images of fluorescence imaging, angle quantification, and electron microscopy described in the paper.