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Owing to the lack of appropriate markers the structural organization of the ER-to-Golgi pathway and the dynamics of its membrane elements have been elusive. To elucidate this organization we have taken a monoclonal antibody (mAb) approach. A mAb against a novel 63 kDa membrane protein (p63) was produced that identifies a large tubular network of smooth membranes in the cytoplasm of primate cells. The distribution of p63 overlaps with the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment, defined by a previously described 53 kDa marker protein (here termed ERGIC-53), as visualized by confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. The p63 compartment mediates protein transport from the ER to Golgi apparatus, as indicated by partial colocalization of p63 and vesicular stomatitis virus G protein in Vero cells cultured at 15 degrees C. Low temperatures and brefeldin A had little effect on the cellular distribution of p63, suggesting that this novel marker is a stably anchored resident protein of these pre-Golgi membranes. p63 and ERGIC-53 were enriched to a similar degree by the same subcellular fractionation procedure. These findings demonstrate an unanticipated complexity of the ER-Golgi interface and suggest that the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment defined by ERGIC-53 may be part of a greater network of smooth membranes.
