Actin assembly plays a variable, but not obligatory role in receptor-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells

Three cell-permeant compounds, cytochalasin D, latrunculin A and jasplakinolide, which perturb intracellular actin dynamics by distinct mechanisms, were used to probe the role of filamentous actin and actin assembly in clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells. These compounds had variable effects on receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin that depended on both the cell line and the experimental protocol employed. Endocytosis in A431 cells assayed in suspension was inhibited by latrunculin A and jasplakinolide, but resistant to cytochalasin D, whereas neither compound inhibited endocytosis in adherent A431 cells. In contrast, endocytosis in adherent CHO cells was more sensitive to disruption of the actin cytoskeleton than endocytosis in CHO cells grown or assayed in suspension. Endocytosis in other cell types, including nonadherent K562 human erythroleukemic cells or adherent Cos-7 cells was unaffected by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. While it remains possible that actin filaments can play an accessory role in receptor-mediated endocytosis, these discordant results indicate that actin assembly does not play an obligatory role in endocytic coated vesicle formation in cultured mammalian cells.     

A high precision survey of the molecular dynamics of mammalian clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Dual colour total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for decoding the molecular dynamics of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Typically, the recruitment of a fluorescent protein-tagged endocytic protein was referenced to the disappearance of spot-like clathrin-coated structure (CCS), but the precision of spot-like CCS disappearance as a marker for canonical CME remained unknown. Here we have used an imaging assay based on total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to detect scission events with a resolution of ～ 2 s. We found that scission events engulfed comparable amounts of transferrin receptor cargo at CCSs of different sizes and CCS did not always disappear following scission. We measured the recruitment dynamics of 34 types of endocytic protein to scission events: Abp1, ACK1, amphiphysin1, APPL1, Arp3, BIN1, CALM, CIP4, clathrin light chain (Clc), cofilin, coronin1B, cortactin, dynamin1/2, endophilin2, Eps15, Eps8, epsin2, FBP17, FCHo1/2, GAK, Hip1R, lifeAct, mu2 subunit of the AP2 complex, myosin1E, myosin6, NECAP, N-WASP, OCRL1, Rab5, SNX9, synaptojanin2β1, and syndapin2. For each protein we aligned ～ 1,000 recruitment profiles to their respective scission events and constructed characteristic "recruitment signatures" that were grouped, as for yeast, to reveal the modular organization of mammalian CME. A detailed analysis revealed the unanticipated recruitment dynamics of SNX9, FBP17, and CIP4 and showed that the same set of proteins was recruited, in the same order, to scission events at CCSs of different sizes and lifetimes. Collectively these data reveal the fine-grained temporal structure of CME and suggest a simplified canonical model of mammalian CME in which the same core mechanism of CME, involving actin, operates at CCSs of diverse sizes and lifetimes.     

Differential Requirements for Clathrin-dependent Endocytosis at Sites of Cell–Substrate Adhesion

Clathrin-dependent endocytosis is a major route for the cellular import of macromolecules and occurs at the interface between the cell and its surroundings. However, little is known about the influences of cell–substrate attachment in clathrin-coated vesicle formation. Using biochemical and imaging-based methods, we find that cell–substrate adhesion reduces the rate of endocytosis. Clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) in proximity to substrate contacts exhibit slower dynamics in comparison to CCPs found more distant from adhesions. Direct manipulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to modulate adhesion demonstrates that tight adhesion dramatically reduces clathrin-dependent endocytosis and extends the lifetimes of clathrin structures. This reduction is in part mediated by integrin-matrix engagement. In addition, we demonstrate that actin cytoskeletal dynamics are differentially required for efficient endocytosis, with a stronger requirement for actin polymerization in areas of adhesion. Together, these results reveal that cell–substrate adhesion regulates clathrin-dependent endocytosis and suggests that actin assembly facilitates vesicle formation at sites of adhesion.     

A Hip1R-cortactin complex negatively regulates actin assembly associated with endocytosis

Actin polymerization plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis in many cell types, but how polymerization is regulated is not known. Hip1R may negatively regulate actin assembly during endocytosis because its depletion increases actin assembly at endocytic sites. Here, we show that the C-terminal proline-rich domain of Hip1R binds to the SH3 domain of cortactin, a protein that binds to dynamin, actin filaments and the Arp2/3 complex. We demonstrate that Hip1R deleted for the cortactin-binding site loses its ability to rescue fully the formation of abnormal actin structures at endocytic sites induced by Hip1R siRNA. To determine when this complex might function during endocytosis, we performed live cell imaging. The maximum in vivo recruitment of Hip1R, clathrin and cortactin to endocytic sites was coincident, and all three proteins disappeared together upon formation of a clathrin-coated vesicle. Finally, we showed that Hip1R inhibits actin assembly by forming a complex with cortactin that blocks actin filament barbed end elongation.     

Coupling between clathrin-coated-pit invagination, cortactin recruitment, and membrane scission observed in live cells

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis, membrane scission marks the isolation of a cargo-laden clathrin-coated pit (CCP) from the cell exterior. Here we used live-cell imaging of a pH-sensitive cargo to visualize the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) at single CCPs with a time resolution of seconds. We show that CCPs are highly dynamic and can produce multiple vesicles in succession. Using alternating evanescent field and epifluorescence illumination, we show that CCP invagination and scission are tightly coupled, with scission coinciding with maximal displacement of CCPs from the plasma membrane and with peak recruitment of cortactin-DsRed, a dynamin and F-actin binding protein. Finally, perturbing actin polymerization with latrunculin-B drastically reduces the efficiency of membrane scission and affects many aspects of CCP dynamics. We propose that CCP invagination, actin polymerization, and CCV formation are highly coordinated for efficient endocytosis.     

SNX9 regulates dynamin assembly and is required for efficient clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Dynamin, a central player in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, interacts with several functionally diverse SH3 domain-containing proteins. However, the role of these interactions with regard to dynamin function is poorly defined. We have investigated a recently identified protein partner of dynamin, SNX9, sorting nexin 9. SNX9 binds directly to both dynamin-1 and dynamin-2. Moreover by stimulating dynamin assembly, SNX9 stimulates dynamin's basal GTPase activity and potentiates assembly-stimulated GTPase activity on liposomes. In fixed cells, we observe that SNX9 partially localizes to clathrin-coated pits. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy in living cells, we detect a transient burst of EGFP-SNX9 recruitment to clathrin-coated pits that occurs during the late stages of vesicle formation and coincides spatially and temporally with a burst of dynamin-mRFP fluorescence. Transferrin internalization is inhibited in HeLa cells after siRNA-mediated knockdown of SNX9. Thus, our results establish that SNX9 is required for efficient clathrin-mediated endocytosis and suggest that it functions to regulate dynamin activity.     

Myosin 1E coordinates actin assembly and cargo trafficking during clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Myosin 1E (Myo1E) is recruited to sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis coincident with a burst of actin assembly. The recruitment dynamics and lifetime of Myo1E are similar to those of tagged actin polymerization regulatory proteins. Like inhibition of actin assembly, depletion of Myo1E causes reduced transferrin endocytosis and a significant delay in transferrin trafficking to perinuclear compartments, demonstrating an integral role for Myo1E in these actin-mediated steps. Mistargeting of GFP-Myo1E or its src-homology 3 domain to mitochondria results in appearance of WIP, WIRE, N-WASP, and actin filaments at the mitochondria, providing evidence for Myo1E's role in actin assembly regulation. These results suggest for mammalian cells, similar to budding yeast, interdependence in the recruitment of type I myosins, WIP/WIRE, and N-WASP to endocytic sites for Arp2/3 complex activation to assemble F-actin as endocytic vesicles are being formed.     

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.     

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis: membrane factors pull the trigger

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a vesicular transport event involved in the internalization and recycling of receptors participating in signal transduction events and nutrient import as well as in the reformation of synaptic vesicles. Recent studies in vitro and in living cells have provided a number of new insights into the initial steps of clathrin-coated vesicle formation and the membrane factors involved in this process. The unexpected complexity of these interactions at the cytosol-membrane interface suggests that clathrin-coated vesicle assembly is a highly cooperative process occurring under tight regulatory control. In this review, we focus on the role of membrane proteins and lipids in the nucleation of clathrin-coated pits and provide a hypothetical model for the early steps in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.     

A role for talin in presynaptic function

Talin, an adaptor between integrin and the actin cytoskeleton at sites of cell adhesion, was recently found to be present at neuronal synapses, where its function remains unknown. Talin interacts with phosphatidylinositol-(4)-phosphate 5-kinase type Igamma, the major phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2)]-synthesizing enzyme in brain. To gain insight into the synaptic role of talin, we microinjected into the large lamprey axons reagents that compete the talin-PIP kinase interaction and then examined their effects on synaptic structure. A dramatic decrease of synaptic actin and an impairment of clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis were observed. The endocytic defect included an accumulation of clathrin-coated pits with wide necks, as previously observed after perturbing actin at these synapses. Thus, the interaction of PIP kinase with talin in presynaptic compartments provides a mechanism to coordinate PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis, actin dynamics, and endocytosis, and further supports a functional link between actin and clathrin-mediated endocytosis.     

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.     

Actin is required for endocytosis at the apical surface of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells where ARF6 and clathrin regulate the actin cytoskeleton

In epithelial cell lines, apical but not basolateral clathrin-mediated endocytosis has been shown to be affected by actin-disrupting drugs. Using electron and fluorescence microscopy, as well as biochemical assays, we show that the amount of actin dedicated to endocytosis is limiting at the apical surface of epithelia. In part, this contributes to the low basal rate of clathrin-dependent endocytosis observed at this epithelial surface. ARF6 in its GTP-bound state triggers the recruitment of actin from the cell cortex to the clathrin-coated pit to enable dynamin-dependent endocytosis. In addition, we show that perturbation of the apical endocytic system by expression of a clathrin heavy-chain mutant results in the collapse of microvilli. This phenotype was completely reversed by the expression of an ARF6-GTP-locked mutant. These observations indicate that concomitant to actin recruitment, the apical clathrin endocytic system is deeply involved in the morphology of the apical plasma membrane.     

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis: the gateway into plant cells

Endocytosis in plants has an essential role not only for basic cellular functions but also for growth and development, hormonal signaling and communication with the environment including nutrient delivery, toxin avoidance, and pathogen defense. The major endocytic mechanism in plants depends on the coat protein clathrin. It starts by clathrin-coated vesicle formation at the plasma membrane, where specific cargoes are recognized and packaged for internalization. Recently, genetic, biochemical and advanced microscopy studies provided initial insights into mechanisms and roles of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plants. Here we summarize the present state of knowledge and compare mechanisms of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plants with animal and yeast paradigms as well as review plant-specific regulations and roles of this process.     

SNX9 couples actin assembly to phosphoinositide signals and is required for membrane remodeling during endocytosis

Multiple modes of endocytosis require actin-dependent remodeling of the plasma membrane; however, neither the factors linking these processes nor their mechanisms of action are understood. The sorting nexin, SNX9, localizes to clathrin-coated pits where it interacts with dynamin and functions in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Here, we demonstrate that SNX9 also localizes to actin-rich structures implicated in fluid-phase uptake, including tubular membranes containing GPI-anchored proteins and dorsal membrane ruffles. Moreover, we show that SNX9 is critical for dorsal ruffle formation and for clathrin-independent, actin-dependent fluid-phase endocytosis. In vitro, SNX9 directly associates with N-WASP, an Arp2/3 complex activator, and stimulates N-WASP/Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly. SNX9-stimulated actin polymerization is greatly enhanced by PI(4,5)P(2)-containing liposomes, due in part to PI(4,5)P(2)-induced SNX9 oligomerization. These results suggest a mechanism for the spatial and temporal regulation of N-WASP-dependent actin assembly and implicate SNX9 in directly coupling actin dynamics to membrane remodeling during multiple modes of endocytosis.     

Actin dynamics coupled to clathrin-coated vesicle formation at the trans-Golgi network

In diverse species, actin assembly facilitates clathrin-coated vesicle (CCV) formation during endocytosis. This role might be an adaptation specific to the unique environment at the cell cortex, or it might be fundamental, facilitating CCV formation on different membranes. Proteins of the Sla2p/Hip1R family bind to actin and clathrin at endocytic sites in yeast and mammals. We hypothesized that Hip1R might also coordinate actin assembly with clathrin budding at the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Using deconvolution and time-lapse microscopy, we showed that Hip1R is present on CCVs emerging from the TGN. These vesicles contain the mannose 6-phosphate receptor involved in targeting proteins to the lysosome, and the actin nucleating Arp2/3 complex. Silencing of Hip1R expression by RNAi resulted in disruption of Golgi organization and accumulation of F-actin structures associated with CCVs on the TGN. Hip1R silencing and actin poisons slowed cathepsin D exit from the TGN. These studies establish roles for Hip1R and actin in CCV budding from the TGN for lysosome biogenesis.     

Mutations in human dynamin block an intermediate stage in coated vesicle formation

The role of human dynamin in receptor-mediated endocytosis was investigated by transient expression of GTP-binding domain mutants in mammalian cells. Using assays which detect intermediates in coated vesicle formation, the dynamin mutants were found to block endocytosis at a stage after the initiation of coat assembly and preceding the sequestration of ligands into deeply invaginated coated pits. Membrane transport from the ER to the Golgi complex was unaffected indicating that dynamin mutants specifically block early events in endocytosis. These results demonstrate that mutations in the GTP-binding domain of dynamin block Tfn-endocytosis in mammalian cells and suggest that a functional dynamin GTPase is required for receptor-mediated endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits.     

Capturing the mechanics of clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis enables selective uptake of molecules into cells in response to changing cellular needs. It occurs through assembly of coat components around the plasma membrane that determine vesicle contents and facilitate membrane bending to form a clathrin-coated transport vesicle. In this review we discuss recent cryo-electron microscopy structures that have captured a series of events in the life cycle of a clathrin-coated vesicle. Both single particle analysis and tomography approaches have revealed details of the clathrin lattice structure itself, how AP2 may interface with clathrin within a coated vesicle and the importance of PIP2 binding for assembly of the yeast adaptors Sla2 and Ent1 on the membrane. Within cells, cryo-electron tomography of clathrin in flat lattices and high-speed AFM studies provided new insights into how clathrin morphology can adapt during CCV formation. Thus, key mechanical processes driving clathrin-mediated endocytosis have been captured through multiple techniques working in partnership.     

Coupling actin dynamics and membrane dynamics during endocytosis.

A convergence of cellular, genetic and biochemical studies supports the hypothesis that the actin cytoskeleton is coupled to endocytic processes, but the roles played by actin filaments during endocytosis are not yet clear. Recent studies have identified several proteins that may functionally link the endocytic machinery with actin filament dynamics. Three of these proteins, Abp1p, Pan1p and cortactin, are activators of actin assembly nucleated by the Arp2/3 complex, a key regulator of actin assembly in vivo. Two others, intersectin and syndapin, bind N-WASp, a potent activator of actin assembly via the Arp2/3 complex. All of these proteins also bind components of the endocytic machinery, and thus, could coordinately regulate actin assembly and trafficking events. Hip1R, an F-actin-binding protein that associates with clathrin-coated vesicles, may physically link endocytic vesicles to actin filaments. The GTPase dynamin is implicated in modulating actin filaments at specialized actin-rich structures of the cell cortex, suggesting that dynamin may regulate the organization of cortical actin filaments as well as regulate actin dynamics during endocytosis. Finally, myosin VI may generate actin-dependent forces for membrane invagination or vesicle movement during the early stages of endocytosis.     

Pan1p: an actin director of endocytosis in yeast

The yeast protein Pan1p plays a key role in actin-driven endocytosis. The molecular architecture enables the protein to perform multivalent tasks. First, Pan1p acts as a central scaffold for assembly of coat complex at the endocytic sites through its binding to multiple endocytic proteins. Secondly, Pan1p is also required for normal actin cytoskeleton organization and dynamics at the cell cortex. It is capable of F-actin binding and promoting the Arp2/3-mediated actin nucleation via its WH2 and acid domains. Pan1p, therefore, is responsible for the mechanism of coupling the vesicle coat to actin network in the early steps of internalization. The function of Pan1p is under a negative regulation by the kinase Prk1p. Phosphorylation of Pan1p by Prk1p results in disassembly of the coat complex and dissociation of the vesicle from actin meshwork after internalization. The phosphorylation of Pan1p is possibly reversed by the type 1 phosphatase Glc7p, which will allow Pan1p to be reused for coat assembly in the next round of endocytosis.     

The actin-binding protein Hip1R associates with clathrin during early stages of endocytosis and promotes clathrin assembly in vitro

Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 related (Hip1R) is a novel component of clathrin-coated pits and vesicles and is a mammalian homologue of Sla2p, an actin-binding protein important for both actin organization and endocytosis in yeast. Here, we demonstrate that Hip1R binds via its putative central coiled-coil domain to clathrin, and provide evidence that Hip1R and clathrin are associated in vivo at sites of endocytosis. First, real-time analysis of Hip1R-YFP and DsRed-clathrin light chain (LC) in live cells revealed that these proteins show almost identical temporal and spatial regulation at the cell cortex. Second, at the ultrastructure level, immunogold labeling of 'unroofed' cells showed that Hip1R localizes to clathrin-coated pits. Third, overexpression of Hip1R affected the subcellular distribution of clathrin LC. Consistent with a functional role for Hip1R in endocytosis, we also demonstrated that it promotes clathrin cage assembly in vitro. Finally, we showed that Hip1R is a rod-shaped apparent dimer with globular heads at either end, and that it can assemble clathrin-coated vesicles and F-actin into higher order structures. In total, Hip1R's properties suggest an early endocytic function at the interface between clathrin, F-actin, and lipids.