In vitro fusion of endosomes following receptor-mediated endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis and receptor recycling involve a series of intracellular membrane fusion events that appear to play an important role in the regulation of the overall rate and efficiency of the process. An endosome-endosome fusion assay is described using two ligands that (i) rapidly and efficiently enter the endosomal compartment via the macrophage mannose receptor and (ii) that mutually recognize each other. Dinitrophenol-derivatized beta-glucuronidase (DNP-beta-glucuronidase), a ligand for the mannose receptor, was endocytosed by one population of J774 E clone cells, and mannose-derivatized monoclonal anti-DNP IgG (Man-IgG) was internalized by a second set of cells. Both ligands were localized in endosomes as determined by fractionation on Percoll gradients. Incubation of vesicles prepared from the two set of cells resulted in vesicle fusion as indicated by the formation of DNP-beta-glucuronidase-Man-IgG complexes. Under standard conditions, fusion was time-, ATP-, and temperature-dependent. KCl was required for fusion. Fusion required both cytosolic- and membrane-associated proteins. N-Ethylmaleimide treatment of cytosol inhibited fusion. Proton ionophores and amines had no effect on the fusion reaction. ATP-dependent fusion was only observed between early endocytic compartments. While in the presence of a Ca2+ chelator fusion was ATP-dependent, in its absence fusion was also observed in an ATP-independent fashion.