Rous-Whipple Award Lecture. Contributions to the physiology and pathology of the Golgi apparatus.

The importance of the Golgi apparatus in the transport, processing, and targeting of proteins destined for secretion, plasma membranes, and lysosomes has emerged from numerous studies. In this paper we review studies from our laboratory dealing with 1) the Golgi apparatus during mitosis and the role of microtubules in maintaining the structure of the organelle, 2) the endocytosis of antibodies, exogenous lectins, and toxins into the Golgi apparatus of several cells including neurons in vivo and in vitro, 3) the traffic of MG-160, a membrane sialoglycoprotein of the medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus, from the trans-Golgi network to the Golgi cisternae, and 4) the involvement of the Golgi apparatus of motor neurons in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We conclude with a summary of ongoing work on the primary structure of MG-160 and introduce evidence suggesting that this intrinsic membrane protein of the Golgi apparatus may be involved in the regulation of endogenous, autocrine, basic fibroblast growth factor. We hope that this review will stimulate studies on the Golgi apparatus of neurons, which may lead to the discovery of neuron-specific properties of this important organelle and its involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders.