Identification of domain required for catalytic activity of auxilin in supporting clathrin uncoating by Hsc70

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis Hsc70, supported by the J-domain protein auxilin, uncoats clathrin-coated vesicles. Auxilin contains both a clathrin-binding domain and a J-domain that binds Hsc70, and it has been suggested that these two domains are both necessary and sufficient for auxilin activity. To test this hypothesis, we created a chimeric protein consisting of the J-domain of auxilin linked to the clathrin-binding domain of the assembly protein AP180. This chimera supported uncoating, but unlike auxilin it acted stoichiometrically rather than catalytically because, like Hsc70, it remained associated with the uncoated clathrin. This observation supports our proposal that Hsc70 chaperones uncoated clathrin by inducing formation of a stable Hsc70-clathrin-AP complex. It also shows that Hsc70 acts by dissociating individual clathrin triskelions rather than cooperatively destabilizing clathrin-coated vesicles. Because the chimera lacks the C-terminal subdomain of the auxilin clathrin-binding domain, it seemed possible that this subdomain is required for auxilin to act catalytically, and indeed its deletion caused auxilin to act stoichiometrically. In contrast, deletion of the N-terminal subdomain weakened auxilin-clathrin binding and prevented auxilin from polymerizing clathrin. Therefore the C-terminal subdomain of the clathrin-binding domain of auxilin is required for auxilin to act catalytically, whereas the N-terminal subdomain strengthens auxilin-clathrin binding.     

Role of cyclin G-associated kinase in uncoating clathrin-coated vesicles from non-neuronal cells

Auxilin is a brain-specific DnaJ homolog that is required for Hsc70 to dissociate clathrin from bovine brain clathrin-coated vesicles. However, Hsc70 is also involved in uncoating clathrin-coated vesicles formed at the plasma membrane of non-neuronal cells suggesting that an auxilin homolog may be required for uncoating in these cells. One candidate is cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK), a 150-kDa protein expressed ubiquitously in various tissues. GAK has a C-terminal domain with high sequence similarity to auxilin; like auxilin this C-terminal domain consists of three subdomains, an N-terminal tensin-like domain, a clathrin-binding domain, and a C-terminal J-domain. Western blot analysis shows that GAK is present in rat liver, bovine testes, and bovine brain clathrin-coated vesicles. More importantly, liver clathrin-coated vesicles, which contain GAK but not auxilin, are uncoated by Hsc70, suggesting that GAK acts as an auxilin homolog in non-neuronal cells. In support of this view, the clathrin-binding domain of GAK alone induces clathrin polymerization into baskets and the combined clathrin-binding domain and J-domain of GAK supports uncoating of AP180-clathrin baskets by Hsc70 at pH 7 and induces Hsc70 binding to clathrin baskets at pH 6. Immunolocalization studies suggest that GAK is a cytosolic protein that is concentrated in the perinuclear region; it appears to be highly associated with the trans-Golgi where the budding of clathrin-coated vesicles occurs. We propose that GAK is a required cofactor for the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles by Hsc70 in non-neuronal cells.     

Multiple interactions of auxilin 1 with clathrin and the AP-2 adaptor complex

The removal of the clathrin coat is essential for vesicle fusion with acceptor membranes. Disassembly of the coat involves hsc70, which is specifically recruited by members of the auxilin protein family to clathrin lattices. In vitro, this function of auxilin does not require the globular amino-terminal domain of the clathrin heavy chain, which is known to play a prominent role in the interaction of clathrin with adaptors and numerous endocytic accessory proteins. Here we report the unexpected finding that the neuron-specific form of auxilin (auxilin 1) can also associate with the clathrin amino-terminal domain. This interaction is mediated through tandemly arranged sites within the auxilin 1 carboxyl-terminal segment 547-910. The overlapping auxilin 1 fragments 547-714 and 619-738 bind the clathrin terminal domain with high affinity, whereas auxilin 1-(715-901) interacts only poorly with it. All three fragments also associate with the clathrin distal domain and the alpha-appendage domain of AP-2. Moreover, they support efficient assembly of clathrin triskelia into regular cages. A novel uncoating assay was developed to demonstrate that auxilin 1-(715-901) functions efficiently as a cofactor for hsc70 in the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles. The multiple protein-protein interactions of auxilin 1 suggest that its function in endocytic trafficking may be more complex than previously anticipated.     

Identification of the universal cofactor (auxilin 2) in clathrin coat dissociation

Uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles in neuronal cells requires hsc70 in concert with the cofactor auxilin which contains a J-domain as well as a domain with homology to dual specific phosphatases and tensin, known as PTEN. The question of whether an analogous factor operates in other cell types has until now remained unanswered. Here we show that it is the recently discovered and widely expressed cyclin G-associated protein kinase which fulfils the function of neuronal auxilin in hsc70-mediated clathrin coat dissociation. GAK possesses a J-domain, which stimulates the hsc70 ATPase, it competes with auxilin for clathrin binding and at sufficiently high concentrations acts as a clathrin assembly protein. Moreover, GAK binds to the gamma- and alpha-appendage domains of the adaptor proteins AP-1 and AP-2 in vitro and phosphorylates their medium chains. Cells that transiently overexpress GAK are impaired in respect of receptor-mediated endocytosis. In transfected cells clathrin is dislodged from coated pits/vesicles and co-localizes with GFP-GAK in the form of large aggregates. The cellular distribution of membrane-associated adaptors was unaffected by overexpression of GAK. Our results point to a hsc70/auxilin-based uncoating system as a ubiquitous feature of eukaryotic cells.     

Mechanism of clathrin basket dissociation: separate functions of protein domains of the DnaJ homologue auxilin

Auxilin was recently identified as cofactor for hsc70 in the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles (Ungewickell, E., H. Ungewickell, S.E. Holstein, R. Lindner, K. Prasad, W. Barouch, B. Martin, L.E. Greene, and E. Eisenberg. 1995. Nature (Lond.). 378: 632-635). By constructing different glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-auxilin fragments, we show here that cooperation of auxilin's J domain (segment 813-910) with an adjoining clathrin binding domain (segment 547-814) suffices to dissociate clathrin baskets in the presence of hsc70 and ATP. When the two domains are expressed as separate GST fusion proteins, the cofactor activity is lost, even though both retain their respective functions. The clathrin binding domain binds to triskelia like intact auxilin with a maximum stoichiometry of 3 and concomitantly promotes their assembly into regular baskets. A fragment containing auxilin's J domain associates in an ATP-dependent reaction with hsc70 to form a complex with a half-life of 8 min at 25 degrees C. When the clathrin binding domain and the J domain are recombined via dimerization of their GST moieties, cofactor activity is partially recovered. The interaction between auxilin's J domain and hsc70 causes rapid hydrolysis of bound ATP. Release of inorganic phosphate appears to be correlated with the disintegration of the complex between auxilin's J domain and hsc70. We infer that the metastable complex composed of auxilin, hsc70, ADP, and P(i) contains an activated form of hsc70, primed to engage clathrin that is brought into apposition with it by the DnaJ homologue auxilin.     

The auxilin-like phosphoprotein Swa2p is required for clathrin function in yeast

BACKGROUND: In eukaryotic cells, clathrin-coated vesicles transport specific cargo from the plasma membrane and trans-Golgi network to the endosomal system. Removal of the clathrin coat in vitro requires the uncoating ATPase Hsc70 and its DnaJ cofactor auxilin. To date, a requirement for auxilin and Hsc70 in clathrin function in vivo has not been demonstrated. RESULTS: The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SWA2 gene, previously identified in a synthetic lethal screen with arf1, was cloned and found to encode a protein with a carboxy-terminal DnaJ domain which is homologous to that of auxilin. Like auxilin, Swa2p has a clathrin-binding domain and is able to stimulate the ATPase activity of Hsc70. The swa2-1 allele recovered from the original screen carries a point mutation in its tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a motif not found in auxilin but known in other proteins to mediate interaction with heat-shock proteins. Swa2p fractionates in the cytosol and appears to be heavily phosphorylated. Disruption of SWA2 causes slow growth and several phenotypes that are very similar to those exhibited by clathrin mutants. Furthermore, the swa2Delta mutant exhibits a significant increase in membrane- associated or -assembled clathrin relative to a wild-type strain. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Swa2p is a clathrin-binding protein required for normal clathrin function in vivo. They suggest that Swa2p is the yeast ortholog of auxilin and has a role in disassembling clathrin, not only in uncoating clathrin-coated vesicles but perhaps in preventing unproductive clathrin assembly in vivo.     

Location of auxilin within a clathrin cage

The Dna J homologue, auxilin, acts as a co-chaperone for Hsc70 in the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles during endocytosis. Biochemical studies have aided understanding of the uncoating mechanism but until now there was no structural information on how auxilin interacts with the clathrin cage. Here we have determined the three-dimensional structure of a complex of auxilin with clathrin cages by cryo-electron microscopy and single particle analysis. We show that auxilin forms a discrete shell of density on the inside of the clathrin cage. Peptide competition assays confirm that a candidate clathrin box motif in auxilin, LLGLE, can bind to a clathrin construct containing the beta-propeller domain and also displace the well-characterised LLNLD clathrin box motif derived from the beta-adaptin hinge region. The means by which auxilin could both aid clathrin coat assembly and displace clathrin from AP2 during uncoating is discussed.     

Dissection of Swa2p/auxilin domain requirements for cochaperoning Hsp70 clathrin-uncoating activity in vivo

The auxilin family of J-domain proteins load Hsp70 onto clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) to drive uncoating. In vitro, auxilin function requires its ability to bind clathrin and stimulate Hsp70 ATPase activity via its J-domain. To test these requirements in vivo, we performed a mutational analysis of Swa2p, the yeast auxilin ortholog. Swa2p is a modular protein with three N-terminal clathrin-binding (CB) motifs, a ubiquitin association (UBA) domain, a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, and a C-terminal J-domain. In vitro, clathrin binding is mediated by multiple weak interactions, but a Swa2p truncation lacking two CB motifs and the UBA domain retains nearly full function in vivo. Deletion of all CB motifs strongly abrogates clathrin disassembly but does not eliminate Swa2p function in vivo. Surprisingly, mutation of the invariant HPD motif within the J-domain to AAA only partially affects Swa2p function. Similarly, a TPR point mutation (G388R) causes a modest phenotype. However, Swa2p function is abolished when these TPR and J mutations are combined. The TPR and J-domains are not functionally redundant because deletion of either domain renders Swa2p nonfunctional. These data suggest that the TPR and J-domains collaborate in a bipartite interaction with Hsp70 to regulate its activity in clathrin disassembly.     

Clathrin- and AP-2-binding sites in HIP1 uncover a general assembly role for endocytic accessory proteins

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a major pathway for the internalization of macromolecules into the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The principle coat components, clathrin and the AP-2 adaptor complex, assemble a polyhedral lattice at plasma membrane bud sites with the aid of several endocytic accessory proteins. Here, we show that huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1), a binding partner of huntingtin, copurifies with brain clathrin-coated vesicles and associates directly with both AP-2 and clathrin. The discrete interaction sequences within HIP1 that facilitate binding are analogous to motifs present in other accessory proteins, including AP180, amphiphysin, and epsin. Bound to a phosphoinositide-containing membrane surface via an epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain, HIP1 associates with AP-2 to provide coincident clathrin-binding sites that together efficiently recruit clathrin to the bilayer. Our data implicate HIP1 in endocytosis, and the similar modular architecture and function of HIP1, epsin, and AP180 suggest a common role in lipid-regulated clathrin lattice biogenesis.     

Potential role for a novel AP180-related protein during endocytosis in MDCK cells

Clathrin assembly protein, AP180, was originally identified as a brain-specific protein localized to the presynaptic junction. AP180 acts to limit vesicle size and maintain a pool of releasable synaptic vesicles during rapid recycling. In this study, we show that polarized epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells express two AP180-related proteins: the ubiquitously expressed 62-kDa clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia (CALM, AP180-2) protein and a novel high-molecular-weight homolog that we have named AP180-3. Sequence analysis of AP180-3 expressed in MDCK cells shows high homology to AP180 from rat brain. AP180-3 contains conserved motifs found in brain-specific AP180, including the epsin NH₂-terminal homology (ENTH) domain, the binding site for the -subunit of AP-2, and DLL repeats. Our studies show that AP180-3 from MDCK cells forms complexes with AP-2 and clathrin and that membrane recruitment of these complexes is modulated by phosphorylation. We demonstrate by immunohistochemistry that AP180-3 is localized to cytoplasmic vesicles in MDCK cells and is also present in tubule epithelial cells from mouse kidney. We observed by immunodetection that a high-molecular-weight AP180-related protein is expressed in numerous cells in addition to MDCK cells. clathrin assembly lympoid myeloid leukemia; kidney epithelial cells; epsin NH₂-terminal homology domain; DLL repeats; clathrin; AP-2     

Clathrin interactions with C-terminal regions of the yeast AP-1 beta and gamma subunits are important for AP-1 association with clathrin coats

Heterotetrameric adaptor (AP) complexes are thought to coordinate cargo recruitment and clathrin assembly during clathrin-coated vesicle biogenesis. We have identified, and characterized the physiological significance of clathrin-binding activities in the two large subunits of the AP-1 complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Using GST-fusion chromatography, two clathrin-binding sites were defined in the β1 subunit that match consensus clathrin-binding sequences in other mammalian and yeast clathrin-binding proteins. Clathrin interactions were also identified with the C-terminal region of the γ subunit. When introduced into chromosomal genes, point mutations in the β1 clathrin-binding motifs, or deletion of the γ C-terminal region, reduced association of AP-1 with clathrin in coimmunoprecipitation assays. The β1 mutations or the γ truncation individually produced minor effects on AP-1 distribution by subcellular fractionation. However, when β1 and γ mutations were combined, severe defects were observed in AP-1 association with membranes and incorporation into clathrin-coated vesicles. The combination of subunit mutations accentuated growth and α-factor pheromone maturation defects in chc1-ts cells, though not to the extent caused by complete loss of AP-1 activity. Our results suggest that both the β1 and γ subunits contribute interactions with clathrin that are important for stable assembly of AP-1 complexes into clathrin coats in vivo .     

Uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles in presynaptic terminals: roles for Hsc70 and auxilin.

We have examined the roles of Hsc70 and auxilin in the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) during neuronal endocytosis. We identified two peptides that inhibit the ability of Hsc70 and auxilin to uncoat CCVs in vitro. When injected into nerve terminals, these peptides inhibited both synaptic transmission and CCV uncoating. Mutation of a conserved HPD motif within the J domain of auxilin prevented binding to Hsc70 in vitro and injecting this mutant protein inhibited CCV uncoating in vivo, demonstrating that the interaction of auxilin with Hsc70 is critical for CCV uncoating. These studies establish that auxilin and Hsc70 participate in synaptic vesicle recycling in neurons and that an interaction between these proteins is required for CCV uncoating.     

Eps15 homology domain-NPF motif interactions regulate clathrin coat assembly during synaptic vesicle recycling

Although genetic and biochemical studies suggest a role for Eps15 homology domain containing proteins in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, the specific functions of these proteins have been elusive. Eps15 is found at the growing edges of clathrin-coated pits, leading to the hypothesis that it participates in the formation of coated vesicles. We have evaluated this hypothesis by examining the effect of Eps15 on clathrin assembly. We found that although Eps15 has no intrinsic ability to assemble clathrin, it potently stimulates the ability of the clathrin adaptor protein, AP180, to assemble clathrin at physiological pH. We have also defined the binding sites for Eps15 on squid AP180. These sites contain an NPF motif, and peptides derived from these binding sites inhibit the ability of Eps15 to stimulate clathrin assembly in vitro. Furthermore, when injected into squid giant presynaptic nerve terminals, these peptides inhibit the formation of clathrin-coated pits and coated vesicles during synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This is consistent with the hypothesis that Eps15 regulates clathrin coat assembly in vivo, and indicates that interactions between Eps15 homology domains and NPF motifs are involved in clathrin-coated vesicle formation during synaptic vesicle recycling.     

A yeast DNA J protein required for uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles in vivo

Clathrin-coated vesicles mediate diverse processes such as nutrient uptake, downregulation of hormone receptors, formation of synaptic vesicles, virus entry, and transport of biosynthetic proteins to lysosomes. Cycles of coat assembly and disassembly are integral features of clathrin-mediated vesicular transport (Fig. 1a). Coat assembly involves recruitment of clathrin triskelia, adaptor complexes and other factors that influence coat assembly, cargo sequestration, membrane invagination and scission (Fig. 1a). Coat disassembly is thought to be essential for fusion of vesicles with target membranes and for recycling components of clathrin coats to the cytoplasm for further rounds of vesicle formation. In vitro, cytosolic heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and the J-domain co-chaperone auxilin catalyse coat disassembly. However, a specific function of these factors in uncoating in vivo has not been demonstrated, leaving the physiological mechanism and significance of uncoating unclear. Here we report the identification and characterization of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae J-domain protein, Aux1. Inactivation of Aux1 results in accumulation of clathrin-coated vesicles, impaired cargo delivery, and an increased ratio of vesicle-associated to cytoplasmic clathrin. Our results demonstrate an in vivo uncoating function of a J domain co-chaperone and establish the physiological significance of uncoating in transport mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles.     

AP180 and AP-2 interact directly in a complex that cooperatively assembles clathrin.

Clathrin-coated vesicles are involved in protein and lipid trafficking between intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells. AP-2 and AP180 are the resident coat proteins of clathrin-coated vesicles in nerve terminals, and interactions between these proteins could be important in vesicle dynamics. AP180 and AP-2 each assemble clathrin efficiently under acidic conditions, but neither protein will assemble clathrin efficiently at physiological pH. We find that there is a direct, clathrin-independent interaction between AP180 and AP-2 and that the AP180-AP-2 complex is more efficient at assembling clathrin under physiological conditions than is either protein alone. AP180 is phosphorylated in vivo, and in crude vesicle extracts its phosphorylation is enhanced by stimulation of casein kinase II, which is known to be present in coated vesicles. We find that recombinant AP180 is a substrate for casein kinase II in vitro and that its phosphorylation weakens both the binding of AP-2 by AP180 and the cooperative clathrin assembly activity of these proteins. We have localized the binding site for AP-2 to amino acids 623-680 of AP180. The AP180/AP-2 interaction can be disrupted by a recombinant AP180 fragment containing the AP-2 binding site, and this fragment also disrupts the cooperative clathrin assembly activity of the AP180-AP-2 complex. These results indicate that AP180 and AP-2 interact directly to form a complex that assembles clathrin more efficiently than either protein alone. Phosphorylation of AP180, by modulating the affinity of AP180 for AP-2, may contribute to the regulation of clathrin assembly in vivo.     

Uncoating protein (hsc70) binds a conformationally labile domain of clathrin light chain LCa to stimulate ATP hydrolysis

Uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles is mediated by the heat shock cognate protein, hsc70, and requires clathrin light chains (LCa and LCb) and ATP hydrolysis. We demonstrate that purified light chains and synthetic peptides derived from their sequences bind hsc70 to stimulate ATP hydrolysis. LCa is more effective than LCb in stimulating hsc70 ATPase and in inhibiting clathrin uncoating by hsc70. These differences correlate with high sequence divergence in the proline- and glycine-rich region (residues 47-71) that forms the hsc70 binding site. For LCa, but not LCb, this region undergoes reversible conformational changes upon perturbation of the ionic strength or the calcium ion concentration. Our results show that LCa is more important for interactions with hsc70 than is LCb and suggest a model in which the LCa conformation regulates coated vesicle uncoating.     

γ Subunit of the AP-1 Adaptor Complex Binds Clathrin: Implications for Cooperative Binding in Coated Vesicle Assembly

The heterotetrameric AP-1 adaptor complex is involved in the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicles originating from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). The beta 1 subunit of AP-1 is known to contain a consensus clathrin binding sequence, LLNLD (the so-called clathrin box motif), in its hinge segment through which the beta chain interacts with the N-terminal domains of clathrin trimers. Here, we report that the hinge region of the gamma subunit of human and mouse AP-1 contains two copies of a new variant, LLDLL, of the clathrin box motif that also bind to the terminal domain of the clathrin heavy chain. High-affinity binding of the gamma hinge to clathrin trimers requires both LLDLL sequences to be present and the spacing between them to be maintained. We also identify an independent clathrin-binding site within the appendage domain of the gamma subunit that interacts with a region of clathrin other than the N-terminal domain. Clathrin polymerization is promoted by glutathione S-transferase (GST)-gamma hinge, but not by GST-gamma appendage. However, the hinge and appendage domains of gamma function in a cooperative manner to recruit and polymerize clathrin, suggesting that clathrin lattice assembly at the TGN involves multivalent binding of clathrin by the gamma and beta1 subunits of AP-1.     

Visualization of the binding of Hsc70 ATPase to clathrin baskets: implications for an uncoating mechanism

Clathrin assembly into coated pits and vesicles is promoted by accessory proteins such as auxilin and AP180, and disassembly is effected by the Hsc70 ATPase. These interactions may be mimicked in vitro by the assembly and disassembly of clathrin "baskets." The chimera C58J is a minimal construct capable of supporting both reactions; it consists of the C58 moiety of AP180, which facilitates clathrin assembly, fused with the J domain of auxilin, which recruits Hsc70 to baskets. We studied the process of disassembly by using cryo-electron microscopy to identify the initial binding site of Hsc70 on clathrin-C58J baskets at pH 6, under which conditions disassembly does not proceed further. Hsc70 interactions involve two sites: (i) its major interaction is with the sides of spars of the clathrin lattice, close to the triskelion hubs and (ii) there is another interaction at a site at the N-terminal hooks of the clathrin heavy chains, presumably via the J domain of C58J. We propose that individual triskelions may be extricated from the clathrin lattice by the concerted action of up to six Hsc70 molecules, which intercalate between clathrin leg segments, prying them apart. Three Hsc70s remain bound to the dissociated triskelion, close to its trimerization hub.     

A motif in the clathrin heavy chain required for the Hsc70/auxilin uncoating reaction

The 70-kDa heat-shock cognate protein (Hsc70) chaperone is an ATP-dependent "disassembly enzyme" for many subcellular structures, including clathrin-coated vesicles where it functions as an uncoating ATPase. Hsc70, and its cochaperone auxilin together catalyze coat disassembly. Like other members of the Hsp70 chaperone family, it is thought that ATP-bound Hsc70 recognizes the clathrin triskelion through an unfolded exposed hydrophobic segment. The best candidate is the unstructured C terminus (residues 1631-1675) of the heavy chain at the foot of the tripod below the hub, containing the sequence motif QLMLT, closely related to the sequence bound preferentially by the substrate groove of Hsc70 (Fotin et al., 2004b). To test this hypothesis, we generated in insect cells recombinant mammalian triskelions that in vitro form clathrin cages and clathrin/AP-2 coats exactly like those assembled from native clathrin. We show that coats assembled from recombinant clathrin are good substrates for ATP- and auxilin-dependent, Hsc70-catalyzed uncoating. Finally, we show that this uncoating reaction proceeds normally when the coats contain recombinant heavy chains truncated C-terminal to the QLMLT motif, but very inefficiently when the motif is absent. Thus, the QLMLT motif is required for Hsc-70-facilitated uncoating, consistent with the proposal that this sequence is a specific target of the chaperone.     

Auxilin-dynamin interactions link the uncoating ATPase chaperone machinery with vesicle formation

The large GTPase dynamin is required for budding of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane, after which the clathrin coat is removed by the chaperone Hsc70 and its cochaperone auxilin. Recent evidence suggests that the GTP-bound form of dynamin may recruit factors that execute the fission reaction. Here, we show that dynamin:GTP binds to Hsc70 and auxilin. We mapped two domains within auxilin that interact with dynamin, and these domains inhibit endocytosis when overexpressed in HeLa cells or when added in a permeable cell assay. The inhibition is not due to impairment of clathrin uncoating or to altered clathrin distribution in cells. Thus, in addition to its requirement for clathrin uncoating, our results show that auxilin also acts during the early steps of clathrin-coated vesicle formation. The data suggest that dynamin regulates the action of molecular chaperones in vesicle budding during endocytosis.