A Highlights from MBoC Selection: Dual single-scission event analysis of constitutive transferrin receptor (TfR) endocytosis and ligand-triggered β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) or Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) endocytosis

The dynamic relationship between constitutive and ligand-triggered clathrin-mediated endocytosis is only poorly characterized, and it remains controversial whether clathrin-coated pits specialize to internalize particular receptor cargo. Here we analyzed the ligand-triggered endocytosis of the model G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) and Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) at the level of individual endocytic events using a total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM)–based assay. Similar to the constitutive endocytosis of transferrin receptor (TfR), ligand- triggered endocytosis of β2AR occurs via quantized scission events hosted by clathrin spots and plaques of variable size and persistence. To address whether clathrin-coated structures (CCSs) specialize to internalize particular GPCRs, we adapted the TIRFM imaging assay to simultaneously quantify the internalization of TfR and the ligand- triggered endocytosis of the β2AR or MOR. Agonist-triggered β2AR or MOR endocytosis extended the maturation time of CCSs, as shown previously, but did not affect the rate of constitutive TfR endocytosis or loading of TfR into individual endocytic vesicles. Both the β2AR and the MOR receptors entered cells in the same vesicles as TfR, and the overall evidence for CCS specialization was weak. These data support a simple model in which different cargoes internalize through common CCSs.     

Imaging single endocytic events reveals diversity in clathrin, dynamin and vesicle dynamics

The dynamics of clathrin-mediated endocytosis can be assayed using fluorescently tagged proteins and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Many of these proteins, including clathrin and dynamin, are soluble and changes in fluorescence intensity can be attributed either to membrane/vesicle movement or to changes in the numbers of individual molecules. It is important for assays to discriminate between physical membrane events and the dynamics of molecules. Two physical events in endocytosis were investigated: vesicle scission from the plasma membrane and vesicle internalization. Single vesicle analysis allowed the characterization of dynamin and clathrin dynamics relative to scission and internalization. We show that vesicles remain proximal to the plasma membrane for variable amounts of time following scission, and that uncoating of clathrin can occur before or after vesicle internalization. The dynamics of dynamin also vary with respect to scission. Results from assays based on physical events suggest that disappearance of fluorescence from the evanescent field should be re-evaluated as an assay for endocytosis. These results illustrate the heterogeneity of behaviors of endocytic vesicles and the importance of establishing suitable evaluation criteria for biophysical processes.     

Analysis of yeast endocytic site formation and maturation through a regulatory transition point

The earliest stages of endocytic site formation and the regulation of endocytic site maturation are not well understood. Here we analyzed the order in which the earliest proteins are detectable at endocytic sites in budding yeast and found that an uncharacterized protein, Pal1p/Ydr348cp, is also present at the initial stages of endocytosis. Because Ede1p (homologue of Eps15) and clathrin are the early-arriving proteins most important for cargo uptake, their roles during the early stages of endocytosis were examined more comprehensively. Ede1p is necessary for efficient recruitment of most early-arriving proteins, but not for the recruitment of the adaptor protein Yap1802p, to endocytic sites. The early-arriving proteins, as well as the later-arriving proteins Sla2p and Ent1/2p (homologues of Hip1R and epsins), were found to have longer lifetimes in CLC1-knockout yeast, which indicates that clathrin light chain facilitates the transition from the intermediate to late coat stages. Cargo also arrives during the early stages of endocytosis, and therefore its effect on endocytic machinery dynamics was investigated. Our results are consistent with a role for cargo in regulating the transition of endocytic sites from the early stages of formation to the late stages during which vesicle formation occurs.     

A dynamic actin cytoskeleton functions at multiple stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells is critical for a variety of cellular processes including nutrient uptake and cell surface receptor down-regulation. Despite the findings that numerous endocytic accessory proteins directly or indirectly regulate actin dynamics and that actin assembly is spatially and temporally coordinated with endocytosis, direct functional evidence for a role of actin during clathrin-coated vesicle formation is lacking. Here, we take parallel biochemical and microscopic approaches to address the contribution of actin polymerization/depolymerization dynamics to clathrin-mediated endocytosis. When measured using live-cell fluorescence microscopy, disruption of the F-actin assembly and disassembly cycle with latrunculin A or jasplakinolide results in near complete cessation of all aspects of clathrin-coated structure (CCS) dynamics. Stage-specific biochemical assays and quantitative fluorescence and electron microscopic analyses establish that F-actin dynamics are required for multiple distinct stages of clathrin-coated vesicle formation, including coated pit formation, constriction, and internalization. In addition, F-actin dynamics are required for observed diverse CCS behaviors, including splitting of CCSs from larger CCSs, merging of CCSs, and lateral mobility on the cell surface. Our results demonstrate a key role for actin during clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells.     

The clathrin adaptor Dab2 recruits EH domain scaffold proteins to regulate integrin β1 endocytosis

Endocytic adaptor proteins facilitate cargo recruitment and clathrin-coated pit nucleation. The prototypical clathrin adaptor AP2 mediates cargo recruitment, maturation, and scission of the pit by binding cargo, clathrin, and accessory proteins, including the Eps-homology (EH) domain proteins Eps15 and intersectin. However, clathrin-mediated endocytosis of some cargoes proceeds efficiently in AP2-depleted cells. We found that Dab2, another endocytic adaptor, also binds to Eps15 and intersectin. Depletion of EH domain proteins altered the number and size of clathrin structures and impaired the endocytosis of the Dab2- and AP2-dependent cargoes, integrin β1 and transferrin receptor, respectively. To test the importance of Dab2 binding to EH domain proteins for endocytosis, we mutated the EH domain-binding sites. This mutant localized to clathrin structures with integrin β1, AP2, and reduced amounts of Eps15. Of interest, although integrin β1 endocytosis was impaired, transferrin receptor internalization was unaffected. Surprisingly, whereas clathrin structures contain both Dab2 and AP2, integrin β1 and transferrin localize in separate pits. These data suggest that Dab2-mediated recruitment of EH domain proteins selectively drives the internalization of the Dab2 cargo, integrin β1. We propose that adaptors may need to be bound to their cargo to regulate EH domain proteins and internalize efficiently.     

Control of lipid organization and actin assembly during clathrin-mediated endocytosis by the cytoplasmic tail of the rhomboid protein Rbd2

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is facilitated by a precisely regulated burst of actin assembly. PtdIns(4,5)P2 is an important signaling lipid with conserved roles in CME and actin assembly regulation. Rhomboid family multipass transmembrane proteins regulate diverse cellular processes; however, rhomboid-mediated CME regulation has not been described. We report that yeast lacking the rhomboid protein Rbd2 exhibit accelerated endocytic-site dynamics and premature actin assembly during CME through a PtdIns(4,5)P2-dependent mechanism. Combined genetic and biochemical studies showed that the cytoplasmic tail of Rbd2 binds directly to PtdIns(4,5)P2 and is sufficient for Rbd2''s role in actin regulation. Analysis of an Rbd2 mutant with diminished PtdIns(4,5)P2-binding capacity indicates that this interaction is necessary for the temporal regulation of actin assembly during CME. The cytoplasmic tail of Rbd2 appears to modulate PtdIns(4,5)P2 distribution on the cell cortex. The syndapin-like F-BAR protein Bzz1 functions in a pathway with Rbd2 to control the timing of type 1 myosin recruitment and actin polymerization onset during CME. This work reveals that the previously unstudied rhomboid protein Rbd2 functions in vivo at the nexus of three highly conserved processes: lipid regulation, endocytic regulation, and cytoskeletal function.     

Interaction between Epsin/Yap180 adaptors and the scaffolds Ede1/Pan1 is required for endocytosis

The spatial and temporal regulation of the interactions among the approximately 60 proteins required for endocytosis is under active investigation in many laboratories. We have identified the interaction between monomeric clathrin adaptors and endocytic scaffold proteins as a critical prerequisite for the recruitment and/or spatiotemporal dynamics of endocytic proteins at early and late stages of internalization. Quadruple deletion yeast cells (DeltaDeltaDeltaDelta) lacking four putative adaptors, Ent1/2 and Yap1801/2 (homologues of epsin and AP180/CALM proteins), with a plasmid encoding Ent1 or Yap1802 mutants, have defects in endocytosis and growth at 37 degrees C. Live-cell imaging revealed that the dynamics of the early- and late-acting scaffold proteins Ede1 and Pan1, respectively, depend upon adaptor interactions mediated by adaptor asparagine-proline-phenylalanine motifs binding to scaffold Eps15 homology domains. These results suggest that adaptor/scaffold interactions regulate transitions from early to late events and that clathrin adaptor/scaffold protein interaction is essential for clathrin-mediated endocytosis.     

A feedback loop between dynamin and actin recruitment during clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis proceeds by a sequential series of reactions catalyzed by discrete sets of protein machinery. The final reaction in clathrin-mediated endocytosis is membrane scission, which is mediated by the large guanosine triophosphate hydrolase (GTPase) dynamin and which may involve the actin-dependent recruitment of N-terminal containing BIN/Amphiphysin/RVS domain containing (N-BAR) proteins. Optical microscopy has revealed a detailed picture of when and where particular protein types are recruited in the ～20-30 s preceding scission. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms and functions that underpin protein recruitment are not well understood. Here we used an optical assay to investigate the coordination and interdependencies between the recruitment of dynamin, the actin cytoskeleton, and N-BAR proteins to individual clathrin-mediated endocytic scission events. These measurements revealed that a feedback loop exists between dynamin and actin at sites of membrane scission. The kinetics of dynamin, actin, and N-BAR protein recruitment were modulated by dynamin GTPase activity. Conversely, acute ablation of actin dynamics using latrunculin-B led to a ～50% decrease in the incidence of scission, an ～50% decrease in the amplitude of dynamin recruitment, and abolished actin and N-BAR recruitment to scission events. Collectively these data suggest that dynamin, actin, and N-BAR proteins work cooperatively to efficiently catalyze membrane scission. Dynamin controls its own recruitment to scission events by modulating the kinetics of actin and N-BAR recruitment to sites of scission. Conversely actin serves as a dynamic scaffold that concentrates dynamin and N-BAR proteins at sites of scission.     

STAM and Hrs are subunits of a multivalent ubiquitin-binding complex on early endosomes

STAM1 and STAM2, which have been identified as regulators of receptor signaling and trafficking, interact directly with Hrs, which mediates the endocytic sorting of ubiquitinated membrane proteins. The STAM proteins interact with the same coiled-coil domain that is involved in the targeting of Hrs to endosomes. In this work, we show that STAM1 and STAM2, as well as an endocytic regulator protein, Eps15, can be co-immunoprecipitated with Hrs both from membrane and cytosolic fractions and that recombinant Hrs, STAM1/STAM2, and Eps15 form a ternary complex. We find that overexpression of Hrs causes a strong recruitment of STAM2 to endosome membranes. Moreover, STAM2, like Hrs and Eps15, binds ubiquitin, and Hrs, STAM2, and Eps15 colocalize with ubiquitinated proteins in clathrin-containing endosomal microdomains. The localization of Hrs, STAM2, Eps15, and clathrin to endosome membranes is controlled by the AAA ATPase mVps4, which has been implicated in multivesicular body formation. Depletion of cellular Hrs by small interfering RNA results in a strongly reduced recruitment of STAM2 to endosome membranes and an impaired degradation of endocytosed epidermal growth factor receptors. We propose that Hrs, Eps15, and STAM proteins function in a multivalent complex that sorts ubiquitinated proteins into the multivesicular body pathway.     

Regulated membrane recruitment of dynamin-2 mediated by sorting nexin 9

The endocytic proteins sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) and dynamin-2 (Dyn2) assemble in the cytosol as a resting complex, together with a 41-kDa protein. We show here that the complex can be activated for membrane binding of SNX9 and Dyn2 by incubation of cytosol in the presence of ATP. SNX9 was essential for Dyn2 recruitment, whereas the reverse was not the case. RNA interference experiments confirmed that SNX9 functions as a mediator of Dyn2 recruitment to membranes in cells. The 41-kDa component was identified as the glycolytic enzyme aldolase. Aldolase bound with high affinity to a tryptophan-containing acidic sequence in SNX9 located close to its Phox homology domain, thereby blocking the membrane binding activity of SNX9. Phosphorylation of SNX9 released aldolase from the native cytosolic complex and rendered SNX9 competent for membrane binding. The results suggest that SNX9-dependent recruitment of Dyn2 to the membrane is regulated by an interaction between SNX9 and aldolase.     

Stonin 2: an adaptor-like protein that interacts with components of the endocytic machinery

Endocytosis of cell surface proteins is mediated by a complex molecular machinery that assembles on the inner surface of the plasma membrane. Here, we report the identification of two ubiquitously expressed human proteins, stonin 1 and stonin 2, related to components of the endocytic machinery. The human stonins are homologous to the Drosophila melanogaster stoned B protein and exhibit a modular structure consisting of an NH(2)-terminal proline-rich domain, a central region of homology specific to the stonins, and a COOH-terminal region homologous to the mu subunits of adaptor protein (AP) complexes. Stonin 2, but not stonin 1, interacts with the endocytic machinery proteins Eps15, Eps15R, and intersectin 1. These interactions occur via two NPF motifs in the proline-rich domain of stonin 2 and Eps15 homology domains of Eps15, Eps15R, and intersectin 1. Stonin 2 also interacts indirectly with the adaptor protein complex, AP-2. In addition, stonin 2 binds to the C2B domains of synaptotagmins I and II. Overexpression of GFP-stonin 2 interferes with recruitment of AP-2 to the plasma membrane and impairs internalization of the transferrin, epidermal growth factor, and low density lipoprotein receptors. These observations suggest that stonin 2 is a novel component of the general endocytic machinery.     

Drosophila homologue of Eps15 is essential for synaptic vesicle recycling

The mammalian protein Eps15 is phosphorylated by EGF receptor tyrosine kinase and has been shown to interact with several components of the endocytic machinery. We have identified a hypomorphic Eps15 mutant in Drosophila which shows reversible paralysis and an altered physiology at restrictive temperatures. In addition, the temperature-sensitive paralytic defect of shibire mutant is enhanced by this mutant. Eps15 is enriched in the larval neuromuscular junction in endocytic 'hot spots' in a pattern similar to Dynamin. Eps15 mutants show a decrease in the alpha-Adaptin levels at the larval neuromuscular junction synapse. Genetic and biochemical studies of interactions with components of the endocytic machinery suggest that Eps15 has an important role in synaptic vesicle recycling and regulates recruitment of alpha-Adaptin.     

Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate regulates clathrin-coated pit initiation, stabilization, and size

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the major mechanism for internalization in mammalian cells. CME initiates by recruitment of adaptors and clathrin to form clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). Nearly half of nascent CCPs abort, whereas others are stabilized by unknown mechanisms and undergo further maturation before pinching off to form clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), the main lipid binding partner of endocytic proteins, is required for CCP assembly, but little is currently known about its contribution(s) to later events in CCV formation. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown and overexpression, we have analyzed the effects of manipulating PIP(2) synthesis and turnover on CME by quantitative total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and computational analysis. Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase cannot be detected within CCPs but functions in initiation and controls the rate and extent of CCP growth. In contrast, the 5'-inositol phosphatase synaptojanin 1 localizes to CCPs and controls early stabilization and maturation efficiency. Together these results suggest that the balance of PIP(2) synthesis in the bulk plasma membrane and its local turnover within CCPs control multiple stages of CCV formation.     

An InCytes from MBC Selection: Early-Arriving Syp1p and Ede1p Function in Endocytic Site Placement and Formation in Budding Yeast

Recent studies have revealed the detailed timing of protein recruitment to endocytic sites in budding yeast. However, little is understood about the early stages of their formation. Here we identify the septin-associated protein Syp1p as a component of the machinery that drives clathrin-mediated endocytosis in budding yeast. Syp1p arrives at endocytic sites early in their formation and shares unique dynamics with the EH-domain protein Ede1p. We find that Syp1p is related in amino acid sequence to several mammalian proteins one of which, SGIP1-α, is an endocytic component that binds the Ede1p homolog Eps15. Like Syp1p, SGIP1-α arrives early at sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, suggesting that Syp1p/Ede1p and SGIP1-α/Eps15 may have a conserved function. In yeast, both Syp1p and Ede1p play important roles in the rate of endocytic site turnover. Additionally, Ede1p is important for endocytic site formation, whereas Syp1p acts as a polarized factor that recruits both Ede1p and endocytic sites to the necks of emerging buds. Thus Ede1p and Syp1p are conserved, early-arriving endocytic proteins with roles in the formation and placement of endocytic sites, respectively.     

Imaging clathrin dynamics in Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes reveals a role for actin in vesicle fission

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is essential for maintaining many basic cellular processes. We monitored the dynamics of clathrin in live Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes overexpressing clathrin light chain fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) using evanescent wave microscopy. Membrane-associated clathrin-coated structures (CCS) constitutively appeared at the peripheral filopodial membrane, moved centripetally while growing in intensity, before being eventually endocytosed within a few tens of seconds. This directed CCS traffic was independent of microtubules but could be blocked by latrunculin A. Taking advantage of available mutants of Drosophila, we expressed clathrin-EGFP in wasp and shibire mutant backgrounds to study the role of actin and dynamin in CCS dynamics and CME in hemocytes. We show that actin plays an essential role in CME in these cells, and that actin and dynamin act at the same stage, but independent of each other. Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes proved to be a promising model system to uncover the molecular events during CME in combining live-cell imaging and genetic analysis.     

Measuring the hierarchy of molecular events during clathrin-mediated endocytosis

A well-orchestrated hierarchy of molecular events is required for successful initiation and maturation of clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). Nevertheless, CCPs display a broad range of lifetimes. This dynamic heterogeneity could either reflect differences in the temporal hierarchy of molecular events, or similar CCP maturation processes with variable kinetics. To address this question, we have used multi-channel image acquisition and automated analysis of CCP dynamics in combination with a new method to quantify the time courses of recruitment of endocytic factors to CCPs of different lifetimes. Using this approach we have extracted the kinetics of recruitment and disassembly of fluorescently labeled clathrin and/or AP-2 throughout the entire lifetime of temporally defined CCP cohorts. On the basis of these analyses, we can (i) directly correlate recruitment profiles of these two proteins; (ii) define five distinct CCP maturation phases, i.e. initiation, growth, maturation, separation and departure; (iii) distinguish events with absolute versus fractional timing and (iv) provide information on the spatial distribution of fluorophores during CCP maturation. Emerging from these analyses is a more clearly defined role for AP-2 in determining the temporal hierarchy for clathrin recruitment and CCP maturation. This method provides a new means to identify other such hierarchies during CCP maturation.     

Computational modeling suggests binding-induced expansion of Epsin disordered regions upon association with AP2

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are prevalent in the eukaryotic proteome. Common functional roles of IDRs include forming flexible linkers or undergoing allosteric folding-upon-binding. Recent studies have suggested an additional functional role for IDRs: generating steric pressure on the plasma membrane during endocytosis, via molecular crowding. However, in order to accomplish useful functions, such crowding needs to be regulated in space (e.g., endocytic hotspots) and time (e.g., during vesicle formation). In this work, we explore binding-induced regulation of IDR steric volume. We simulate the IDRs of two proteins from Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) to see if their conformational spaces are regulated via binding-induced expansion. Using Monte-Carlo computational modeling of excluded volumes, we generate large conformational ensembles (3 million) for the IDRs of Epsin and Eps15 and dock the conformers to the alpha subunit of Adaptor Protein 2 (AP2α), their CME binding partner. Our results show that as more molecules of AP2α are bound, the Epsin-derived ensemble shows a significant increase in global dimensions, measured as the radius of Gyration (R_G) and the end-to-end distance (EED). Unlike Epsin, Eps15-derived conformers that permit AP2α binding at one motif were found to be more likely to accommodate binding of AP2α at other motifs, suggesting a tendency toward co-accessibility of binding motifs. Co-accessibility was not observed for any pair of binding motifs in Epsin. Thus, we speculate that the disordered regions of Epsin and Eps15 perform different roles during CME, with accessibility in Eps15 allowing it to act as a recruiter of AP2α molecules, while binding-induced expansion of the Epsin disordered region could impose steric pressure and remodel the plasma membrane during vesicle formation.     

Interaction between FIP5 and SNX18 regulates epithelial lumen formation

During the morphogenesis of the epithelial lumen, apical proteins are thought to be transported via endocytic compartments to the site of the forming lumen, although the machinery mediating this transport remains to be elucidated. Rab11 GTPase and its binding protein, FIP5, are important regulators of polarized endocytic transport. In this study, we identify sorting nexin 18 as a novel FIP5-interacting protein and characterize the role of FIP5 and SNX18 in epithelial lumen morphogenesis. We show that FIP5 mediates the transport of apical proteins from apical endosomes to the apical plasma membrane and, along with SNX18, is required for the early stages of apical lumen formation. Furthermore, both proteins bind lipids, and FIP5 promotes the capacity of SNX18 to tubulate membranes, which implies a role for FIP5 and SNX18 in endocytic carrier formation and/or scission. In summary, the present findings support the hypothesis that this FIP5-SNX18 complex plays a pivotal role in the polarized transport of apical proteins during apical lumen initiation in epithelial cells.     

A Pan1/End3/Sla1 complex links Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly to sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis

More than 60 highly conserved proteins appear sequentially at sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in yeast and mammals. The yeast Eps15-related proteins Pan1 and End3 and the CIN85-related protein Sla1 are known to interact with each other in vitro, and they all appear after endocytic-site initiation but before endocytic actin assembly, which facilitates membrane invagination/scission. Here we used live-cell imaging in parallel with genetics and biochemistry to explore comprehensively the dynamic interactions and functions of Pan1, End3, and Sla1. Our results indicate that Pan1 and End3 associate in a stable manner and appear at endocytic sites before Sla1. The End3 C-terminus is necessary and sufficient for its cortical localization via interaction with Pan1, whereas the End3 N-terminus plays a crucial role in Sla1 recruitment. We systematically examined the dynamic behaviors of endocytic proteins in cells in which Pan1 and End3 were simultaneously eliminated, using the auxin-inducible degron system. The results lead us to propose that endocytic-site initiation and actin assembly are separable processes linked by a Pan1/End3/Sla1 complex. Finally, our study provides mechanistic insights into how Pan1 and End3 function with Sla1 to coordinate cargo capture with actin assembly.     

The Mechanochemistry of Endocytosis

Endocytic vesicle formation is a complex process that couples sequential protein recruitment and lipid modifications with dramatic shape transformations of the plasma membrane. Although individual molecular players have been studied intensively, how they all fit into a coherent picture of endocytosis remains unclear. That is, how the proper temporal and spatial coordination of endocytic events is achieved and what drives vesicle scission are not known. Drawing upon detailed knowledge from experiments in yeast, we develop the first integrated mechanochemical model that quantitatively recapitulates the temporal and spatial progression of endocytic events leading to vesicle scission. The central idea is that membrane curvature is coupled to the accompanying biochemical reactions. This coupling ensures that the process is robust and culminates in an interfacial force that pinches off the vesicle. Calculated phase diagrams reproduce endocytic mutant phenotypes observed in experiments and predict unique testable endocytic phenotypes in yeast and mammalian cells. The combination of experiments and theory in this work suggest a unified mechanism for endocytic vesicle formation across eukaryotes.