Visualization of ER-to-Golgi transport in living cells reveals a sequential mode of action for COPII and COPI.

Exocytic transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex has been visualized in living cells using a chimera of the temperature-sensitive glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus and green fluorescent protein (ts-G-GFP[ct]). Upon shifting to permissive temperature, ts-G-GFP(ct) concentrates into COPII-positive structures close to the ER, which then build up to form an intermediate compartment or transport complex, containing ERGIC-53 and the KDEL receptor, where COPII is replaced by COPI. These structures appear heterogenous and move in a microtubule-dependent manner toward the Golgi complex. Our results suggest a sequential mode of COPII and COPI action and indicate that the transport complexes are ER-to-Golgi transport intermediates from which COPI may be involved in recycling material to the ER.