Effect of caffeine and reduced temperature (20 degrees C) on the organization of the pre-Golgi and the Golgi stack membranes

We have previously shown that 10 mM caffeine affects the intracellular transport of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) membrane glycoproteins . In this study we have characterized the temperature-dependent effect of caffeine on the distribution and organization of the Golgi complex membranes. At 20~ caffeine is shown to translocate p58, a marker for the pre-and cis-Golgi compartments, to the periphery of the cell. In contrast, under the same conditions a Golgi stack marker, mannosidase II (man II), remains perinuclearly located. The redistribution of membranes induced by caffeine is clearly different from that induced by BFA. Further, caffeine at reduced temperature did not inhibit the retrograde movement of Golgi stack membranes observed in BFA-treated cells. Taken together the results in the present study suggest that 10 mM caffeine at reduced temperature can be used to dissect the interface between the cis-Golgi and the Golgi stack.