Structural requirements for major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain endocytosis and lysosomal targeting

Functional roles of HIV-1 Vpu and CD74: Details and implications of the Vpu-CD74 interaction

HIV-1 Vpu has a variety of functions, including CD4 degradation and the downregulation of MHCII. Downregulation of the MHCII occurs through Vpu binding to the cytoplasmic domain of CD74, the chaperone for antigen presentation. The CD74 cytoplasmic domain also plays a vital role in cell signaling through the activation of an NF-κB signal cascade for the maturation, proliferation and survival of B cells as well as by binding the macrophage inhibitory factor. In view of these functions, it follows that the Vpu-CD74 interaction has multiple downstream consequences for the immune system as it not only impairs foreign antigen presentation but may also have an effect on signal transduction cascades. It is thought that Vpu specifically targets intracellular CD74 while other HIV-1 proteins cannot. Therefore, this protein-protein interaction would be a potential drug target in order to reduce viral persistence. We review the functional importance and specific binding site of Vpu and CD74.

Re-routing of the invariant chain to the direct sorting pathway by introduction of an AP3-binding motif from LIMP II

AP3 is a heteromeric adaptor protein complex involved in the biogenesis of late endosomal/lysosomal structures. It recognizes tyrosine- and leucine-based sorting signals present in the cytoplasmic tails or loops of a number of proteins and is thought to be responsible for the direct transport of these proteins from the Golgi network to late endosomal/lysosomal structures. We have previously reported (Rodionov, Höning, Silye, Kongsvik, von Figura, Bakke, 2002. Structural requirements for interactions between leucine-sorting signals and clathrin-associated adaptor protein complex AP3. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 47436-47443) that in vitro binding of AP3 to the leucine signals is dependent on the nature of three residues immediately upstream of the leucine signal and suggested that these three amino acids define whether the protein is sorted to endosomes via the plasma membrane (PM) or traffics directly to the late endosomes/lysosomes. In this paper, we show in vivo evidence that residues favoring AP3 binding introduced into a protein that is transported via the PM such as the invariant chain can re-route such protein into direct sorting to late endosomal/lysosomal structures.

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression of duck invariant chain

In the present study we identified a duck invariant chain (Ii) cDNA, named duck Ii-1, by RT-PCR and RACE. It was 1190 bp in length and contained a 669 bp open reading frame. An alternative transcript encoding a thyroglobulin (Tg)-containing form of Ii, named duck Ii-2, was also found in duck. The putative amino acid sequence of duck Ii-1 showed an 82% similarity to chicken Ii-1 and about 60% similarity to its mammalian homologues. The similarity of the Tg domain between duck and chicken Ii-2 was 96%, and about 70% between duck and mammalian Ii. The result of RT-PCR showed that Ii mRNA was extensively expressed in various tissues. High levels of both Ii-1 and Ii-2 mRNA were observed in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius. The predicted three-dimensional (3D) structures of duck Ii trimerization and Tg domain are similar to the corresponding regions of human Ii analyzed by comparative protein modeling. These findings indicate that the two isoforms of duck Ii, which strongly expressed in the major immune organs, share structural identity with human Ii.

Involvement of caspase-cleaved and intact adaptor protein 1 complex in endosomal remodeling in maturing dendritic cells

The involvement of the tetrameric adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) complex in protein sorting in intracellular compartments is not yet completely defined. Here we report that in immature dendritic cells, the beta1- and gamma-subunits of AP-1 underwent caspase 3-catalyzed cleavage in their hinge regions, resulting in removal of the C-terminal 'ear' domains. Cleavage was inhibited by lipopolysaccharide or caspase inhibitors, each of which led to maturation of the dendritic cells, demonstrated by endosomal remodeling and an increase in surface expression of peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex class II. Overexpression of similarly truncated AP-1 together with 'silencing' of the endogenous genes in immature dendritic cells did not compromise delivery of major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain to endosomal compartments. However, after lipopolysaccharide-induced maturation, overexpression of truncated AP-1 and 'silencing' of endogenous genes did result in the anomalous surface accumulation of invariant chain and the peptide-editing molecule H2-DM. Thus, at least one function for intact AP-1 is to retain some proteins in endosomes during the dendritic cell maturation process in which others are allowed to egress to the cell surface.

Targeting of NPC1 to late endosomes involves multiple signals, including one residing within the putative sterol-sensing domain

The NPC1 protein is a multipass transmembrane protein whose deficiency causes the autosomal recessive lipid storage disorder Niemann-Pick type C1. NPC1 localizes predominantly to late endosomes and has a dileucine motif located within a small cytoplasmic tail thought to target the protein to this location. Our data have suggested previously that the protein can reach its correct location in the absence of its cytoplasmic tail, suggesting that other signals contribute to NPC1 targeting. By using various FLAG-tagged and CD32-NPC1 chimeric fusion constructs, we show that multiple signals are responsible for the trafficking of NPC1 to the endosomal compartment, including the dileucine motif and a previously unidentified signal residing within the putative sterol-sensing domain transmembrane domain 3. Neither region alone was capable of directing heterologous CD32 fusions to late endosomes exclusively via the trans-Golgi network to the late endosome route taken by wild-type NPC1; transmembrane domain 3 was unable to maintain CD32 in late endosomes, indicating that two or more signals work in concert to target and retain NPC1 in this compartment. In addition we confirm that the tail dileucine motif is not essential for NPC1 targeting to late endosomes, and we discuss the implications of this finding along with the previously unappreciated role for transmembrane domain 3 in NPC1 localization and function.

The Third Way: Progress on pathways of antigen processing and presentation by CD1

CD1 proteins are a third family of antigen presenting molecules that bind bacterial and autologous lipid antigens for presentation to T cells. With the solution of the crystal structures of several complexes of CD1 molecules with lipids, a greater appreciation has been gained of the adaptability of CD1 in binding lipid antigens with diverse structural features. Biochemical studies of the interactions between the TCR and CD1-lipid complexes have revealed striking contrasts with TCR that bind to peptides presented by MHC-encoded class I and class II molecules. The sphingolipid activating proteins (SAP) have recently been found to facilitate the transfer of lipid antigens onto CD1 molecules. This helps to provide an explanation as to how the thermodynamic barrier, caused by loading hydrophobic lipid antigens in a hydrophilic environment, can be overcome. Mechanisms of CD1 endosomal trafficking are being delineated, including the means by which adaptor proteins induce the localization of some types of CD1 molecules to lysosomes, where they bind antigens. Unlike MHC class I and class II proteins, specialized molecules that function solely in chaperoning CD1 molecules, or in facilitating their antigen loading, have not been found. This suggests that the CD1 antigen presenting system, which diverged early in vertebrate evolution from MHC antigen presenting molecules, is a simpler system with a character closer to the primordial antigen presenting function.

Bordetella pertussis infection of primary human monocytes alters HLA-DR expression

Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough, a potentially lethal respiratory disease in children. In immunocompetent individuals, B. pertussis infection elicits an effective adaptive immune response driven by activated CD4(+) T cells. However, live B. pertussis persists in the host for 3 to 4 weeks prior to clearance. Thus, B. pertussis appears to have evolved short-term mechanisms for immune system evasion. We investigated the effects of B. pertussis wild-type strain BP338 on antigen presentation in primary human monocytes. BP338 infection reduced cell surface expression of HLA-DR and CD86 but not that of major histocompatibility complex class I proteins. This change in cell surface HLA-DR expression reflected intracellular redistribution of HLA-DR. The proportion of peptide-loaded molecules was unchanged in infected cells, suggesting that intracellular retention occurred after peptide loading. Although B. pertussis infection of monocytes induced rapid and robust expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), HLA-DR redistribution did not appear to be explained by increased IL-10 levels. BP338-infected monocytes exhibited reduced synthesis of HLA-DR dimers. Interestingly, those HLA-DR proteins that were generated appeared to be longer-lived than HLA-DR in uninfected monocytes. BP338 infection also prevented gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induction of HLA-DR protein synthesis. Using mutant strains of B. pertussis, we found that reduction in HLA-DR surface expression was due in part to the presence of pertussis toxin whereas the inhibition of IFN-gamma induction of HLA-DR could not be linked to any of the virulence factors tested. These data demonstrate that B. pertussis utilizes several mechanisms to modulate HLA-DR expression.

Intracellular pathways of CD1 antigen presentation

Each of the human CD1 proteins takes a different route through secretory and endocytic compartments before finally arriving at the cell surface, where these proteins present glycolipid antigens to T cells. Recent studies have shown that adaptor-protein complexes and CD1-associated chaperones control not only CD1 trafficking, but also the development and activation of CD1-restricted T cells. This indicates that CD1 proteins, similar to MHC class I and II molecules, selectively acquire certain antigens in distinct cellular subcompartments. Here, we summarize evidence supporting the hypothesis that CD1 proteins use separate, but parallel, pathways to survey endosomal compartments differentially for lipid antigens.

Structural requirements for interactions between leucine-sorting signals and clathrin-associated adaptor protein complex AP3

Cytoplasmic tails of LIMPII and the invariant chain contain similar leucine-based sorting signals, but the invariant chain interacts only with AP1 and AP2, whereas LIMPII interacts strongly with AP3. In a series of in vitro experiments, we investigated the effect of residues upstream of the leucine pairs and demonstrated that these residues determine adapter binding, and certain residues favor interactions with AP3. Furthermore, constructs that interacted stronger with AP3 interacted weakly with AP1 and vice versa. Exchanging residues upstream of the leucine-based signal in LIMPII with those of the invariant chain reduced LIMPII binding to AP3 in vitro, and in vivo the corresponding LIMPII mutant was rerouted via the plasma membrane like the invariant chain. These preferential interactions of different leucine signals with different AP complexes may thus be the determining step sorting proteins from the trans-Golgi network to their final destinations. Proteins that interact with AP3 are sorted directly to endosomes/lysosomes, whereas proteins that interact with AP1 are sorted via a different route. At the same time, constructs that exhibited specificity for either AP1 or AP3 might still interact with AP2, suggesting that AP2 may recognize a wider variety of leucine signals. This is consistent with the suggested role of AP2 in internalization of proteins containing general leucine-based signals, including proteins that have been missorted to the plasma membrane.

Ile (476), a constituent of di-leucine-based motif of a major lysosomal membrane protein, LGP85/LIMP II, is important for its proper distribution in late endosomes and lysosomes

Lysosomal membrane glycoprotein termed LGP85 or LIMP II extends a COOH-terminal cytoplasmic tail of R459GQGSMDEGTADERAPLIRT478, in which an L475 I476 sequence lies as a di-leucine-based motif for lysosomal targeting. In the present study, we explored the role of the I476 residue in the localization of LGP85 to the endocytic organelles using two substitution mutants called I476A and I476L in which alanine and leucine are replaced at I476, respectively, and I476R477T478-deleted LGP85 called Delta 476-478. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that I476A and I476L are largely colocalized in intracellular organelles with an endogenous late endosomal and lysosomal marker, LAMP-1, but there were some granules in which staining for the LGP85 mutants was prominent, while Delta 476-478 is detected in LAMP-1-positive and LAMP-1-negative intracellular organelles, and on the cell surface. The subcellular fractionation studies revealed that I476A, I476L, and Delta 476-478 are different from wild-type LGP85 in the distribution of early endosomes, late endosomes, and lysosomes. I476A and I476L are present more in late endosomes than in the densest lysosomes, whereas wild-type LGP85 is mainly lysosomal. Substitution of I476 for A and L differentially modified the ratios of late endosomal to lysosomal LGP85. A major portion of Delta 476-478 resided in the light buoyant density fraction containing plasma membrane and early endosomes. Taken together, these results indicate that the existence of the 476th amino acid residue is essential for localization of LGP85 to late endocytic compartments. The fact that isoleucine but not leucine is in the 476th position is especially of importance in the proper distribution of LGP85 in late endosomes and lysosomes.

Mechanism of interaction between leucine-based sorting signals from the invariant chain and clathrin-associated adaptor protein complexes AP1 and AP2

The cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain contains two leucine-based sorting signals, and each of those seems sufficient to route the invariant chain to its intracellular destination in either normal or polarized cells. It is believed that the intracellular routing of the invariant chain is mediated by its interactions with the clathrin-associated adaptor protein complexes AP1 and AP2. We () have previously demonstrated the in vitro interactions between the cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain and AP1/AP2 complexes. These interactions were specific and depended on the critical leucine residues in the invariant chain's sorting signals. In the present study, we decided to investigate the molecular mechanism of these interactions. To this end, we constructed a set of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins that contained the intact cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain and its various mutants to define residues important for its interactions with AP1 and AP-2. Our results demonstrated the importance of several residues other than the critical leucine residues for such interactions. A strong correlation between in vitro binding of AP2 to the invariant chain and in vivo internalization of the invariant chain was observed, confirming the primary role of AP2 in recognition of endocytic signals. In addition, we demonstrated different requirements for AP1 and AP2 binding to cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain, which may reflect that the different sorting pathways mediated by AP1 and AP2 involve their recognition of the primary structure of the sorting signal.

Mutation of the dominant endocytosis motif in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 can complement matrix mutations without increasing Env incorporation

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein (TM) is efficiently endocytosed in a clathrin-dependent manner. Internalization is mediated by a tyrosine-containing motif within the cytoplasmic domain, and replacement of the cytoplasmic tyrosine by cysteine or phenylalanine increased expression of mutant glycoprotein on the surface of transfected cells by as much as 2.5-fold. Because interactions between the cytoplasmic domain of Env and the matrix protein (MA) have been suggested to mediate incorporation of Env in virus particles, we examined whether perturbation of endocytosis would alter incorporation. Proviruses were constructed to contain the wild-type or mutant Env in conjunction with point mutations in MA that had previously been shown to block Env incorporation. These constructs were used to evaluate the effect of glycoprotein endocytosis on incorporation into virus particles and to test the necessity for a specific interaction between Env and MA to mediate incorporation. Viruses produced from transfected 293T cells were used to infect various cell lines, including MAGI, H9, and CEMx174. Viruses encoding both a disrupted endocytosis motif signal and mutations within MA were significantly more infectious in MAGI cells than their counterparts encoding a mutant MA and wild-type Env. This complementation of infectivity for the MA incorporation mutant viruses was not due to increased glycoprotein incorporation into particles but instead reflected an enhanced fusogenicity of the mutated Env proteins. Our findings further support the concept that a specific interaction between the long cytoplasmic domain of TM and MA is required for efficient incorporation of Env into assembling virions. Alteration of the endocytosis signal of Env, and the resulting increase in cell surface glycoprotein, has no effect on incorporation despite demonstrable effects on fusion, virus entry, and infectivity.

Genetic ablation of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein function in murine embryonic stem cells

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) regulate the interface between signal transduction, membrane-trafficking, and lipid metabolic pathways in eukaryotic cells. The best characterized mammalian PITPs are PITP alpha and PITP beta, two highly homologous proteins that are encoded by distinct genes. Insights into PITP alpha and PITP beta function in mammalian systems have been gleaned exclusively from cell-free or permeabilized cell reconstitution and resolution studies. Herein, we report for the first time the use of genetic approaches to directly address the physiological functions of PITP alpha and PITP beta in murine cells. Contrary to expectations, we find that ablation of PITP alpha function in murine cells fails to compromise growth and has no significant consequence for bulk phospholipid metabolism. Moreover, the data show that PITP alpha does not play an obvious role in any of the cellular activities where it has been reconstituted as an essential stimulatory factor. These activities include protein trafficking through the constitutive secretory pathway, endocytic pathway function, biogenesis of mast cell dense core secretory granules, and the agonist-induced fusion of dense core secretory granules to the mast cell plasma membrane. Finally, the data demonstrate that PITP alpha-deficient cells not only retain their responsiveness to bulk growth factor stimulation but also retain their pluripotency. In contrast, we were unable to evict both PITP beta alleles from murine cells and show that PITP beta deficiency results in catastrophic failure early in murine embryonic development. We suggest that PITP beta is an essential housekeeping PITP in murine cells, whereas PITP alpha plays a far more specialized function in mammals than that indicated by in vitro systems that show PITP dependence.

Cytomegalovirus and transcriptional down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II expression

CD4(+)T lymphocytes are a significant component of the afferent and efferent arms of adaptive immunity and are critical for controlling viral infections. CD4(+)T lymphocytes secrete cytokines that augment CD8(+)T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte responses and directly inhibit viral replication. The interface between the CD4(+)T lymphocyte and virus is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule. Cytomegalovirus, a beta-herpesvirus, has evolved mechanisms for inhibiting MHC class II expression and thus escaping CD4(+)T lymphocyte immunosurveillance. Herein, we review cytomegalovirus-mediated down-regulation of inducible and constitutive MHC class II expression, while focusing on lesions that occur at the level of MHC class II transcription.

Down-regulation of cell surface receptors is modulated by polar residues within the transmembrane domain

How recycling receptors are segregated from down-regulated receptors in the endosome is unknown. In previous studies, we demonstrated that substitutions in the transferrin receptor (TR) transmembrane domain (TM) convert the protein from an efficiently recycling receptor to one that is rapidly down regulated. In this study, we demonstrate that the "signal" within the TM necessary and sufficient for down-regulation is Thr(11)Gln(17)Thr(19) (numbering in TM). Transplantation of these polar residues into the wild-type TR promotes receptor down-regulation that can be demonstrated by changes in protein half-life and in receptor recycling. Surprisingly, this modification dramatically increases the TR internalization rate as well ( approximately 79% increase). Sucrose gradient centrifugation and cross-linking studies reveal that propensity of the receptors to self-associate correlates with down-regulation. Interestingly, a number of cell surface proteins that contain TM polar residues are known to be efficiently down-regulated, whereas recycling receptors for low-density lipoprotein and transferrin conspicuously lack these residues. Our data, therefore, suggest a simple model in which specific residues within the TM sequences dramatically influence the fate of membrane proteins after endocytosis, providing an alternative signal for down-regulation of receptor complexes to the well-characterized cytoplasmic tail targeting signals.

The Rous sarcoma virus Env glycoprotein contains a highly conserved motif homologous to tyrosine-based endocytosis signals and displays an unusual internalization phenotype

The cytoplasmic domains of retroviral transmembrane (TM) glycoproteins contain conserved sequence motifs that resemble tyrosine-based (YXXO-type) endocytosis signals. We have previously described a mutant Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Env protein, Env-mu26, with an L165R mutation in the membrane-spanning domain (MSD) of TM, that exhibited dramatically decreased steady-state surface expression (G. L. Davis and E. Hunter, J. Cell Biol. 105:1191-1203, 1987; P. B. Johnston, J. Y. Dong, and E. Hunter, Virology 206:353-361, 1995). We now demonstrate that the tyrosine of the Y(190)RKM motif in the RSV TM cytoplasmic domain is crucial for the mu26 phenotype and is part of an efficient internalization signal in the context of a mutant MSD. In contrast, despite the presence of the Y(190)RKM motif, wild-type RSV Env is constitutively internalized at a slow rate (1.1%/min) more characteristic of bulk uptake during membrane turnover than of active clustering into endocytic vesicles. The mu26 mutation and two MSD mutations that abrogate palmitoylation of TM resulted in enhanced Env endocytosis indicative of active concentration into coated pits. Surprisingly, an Env-Y190A mutant was apparently excluded from coated pits since its uptake rate of 0.3%/min was significantly below that expected for the bulk rate. We suggest that in RSV Env an inherently functional endocytosis motif is silenced by a counteracting determinant in the MSD that acts to prevent clustering of Env into endocytic vesicles. Mutations in either the cytoplasmic tail or the MSD that inactivate one of the two counteracting signals would thus render the remaining determinant dominant.

Intracellular traffic to compartments for MHC class II peptide loading: signals for endosomal and polarized sorting

In this review we focus on the traffic of MHC class II and endocytosed antigens to intracellular compartments where antigenic peptides are loaded. We also discuss briefly the nature of the peptide loading compartment and the sorting signals known to direct antigen receptors and MHC class II and associated molecules to this location. MHC class II molecules are expressed on a variety of polarized epithelial and endothelial cells, and polarized cells are thus potentially important for antigen presentation. Here we review some cell biological aspects of polarized sorting of MHC class II and the associated invariant chain and the signals that are involved in the sorting process to the basolateral domain. The molecules involved in sorting and loading of peptide may modulate antigen presentation, and in particular we discuss how invariant chain may change the cellular phenotype and the kinetics of the endosomal pathway.

Intracellular transport and peptide loading of MHC class II molecules: regulation by chaperones and motors

MHC class II molecules are important in the onset and modulation of cellular immune responses. Studies on the intracellular transport of these molecules has provided insight into the way pathogens are processed and presented at the cell surface and may result in future immunological intervention strategies. Recent reviews have extensively described structural properties and early events in the biosynthesis of MHC class II (1-3). In this review, the focus will be on the function of the dedicated chaperone proteins Ii, DM and DO in the class II assembly, transport and peptide loading as well on proteins involved in transport steps late in the intracellular transport of MHC class II.

Casein kinase II activity is required for transferrin receptor endocytosis

The effect of protein kinase inhibitors on transferrin receptor (TR) internalization was examined in HeLa, A431, 3T3-L1 cells, and primary chicken embryo fibroblasts. We show that TR endocytosis is not affected by tyrosine kinase or protein kinase C inhibitors, but is inhibited by one serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, H-89. Inhibition occurred within 15 min, was completely reversible after H-89 withdrawal, and was specific for endocytosis rather than pinocytosis since a TR mutant lacking an internalization signal was not affected. Interestingly, H-89 also inhibited the internalization of a TR chimera containing the major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain cytoplasmic tail, indicating that the effect was not specific for the TR. Since H-89 inhibits a number of kinases, we employed a permeabilized cell endocytosis assay to further characterize the kinase. In permeabilized 3T3-L1 cells, addition of pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptides of casein kinase II (CKII) blocked TR internalization by more than 50%, whereas pseudosubstrates of cyclic AMP-dependent kinase A, protein kinase C, and casein kinase I had no effect. Furthermore, addition of purified CKII to the cell-free reactions containing CKII pseudosubstrates reversed the endocytosis block, suggesting that CKII or a CKII-like activity is required for constitutive endocytosis.

A Role for the Transmembrane Domain in the Trimerization of the MHC Class II-Associated Invariant Chain

MHC class II and invariant chain (Ii) associate early in biosynthesis to form a nonameric complex. Ii first assembles into a trimer and then associates with three class II αβ heterodimers. Although the membrane-proximal region of the Ii luminal domain is structurally disordered, the C-terminal segment of the luminal domain is largely α-helical and contains a major interaction site for the Ii trimer. In this study, we show that the Ii transmembrane domain plays an important role in the formation of Ii trimers. The Ii transmembrane domain contains an unusual patch of hydrophilic residues near the luminal interface. Substitution of these polar residues with nonpolar amino acids resulted in a decrease in the efficiency of Ii trimerization and subsequent class II association. Moreover, N-terminal fragments of Ii were found to trimerize independently of the luminal α-helical domain. Progressive C-terminal truncations mapped a homotypic association site to the first 80 aa of Ii. Together, these results implicate the Ii transmembrane domain as a site of trimer interaction that can play an important role in the initiation of trimer formation.

A cytoplasmic sequence in human tyrosinase defines a second class of di-leucine-based sorting signals for late endosomal and lysosomal delivery

Distinct cytoplasmic sorting signals target integral membrane proteins to late endosomal compartments, but it is not known whether different signals direct targeting by different pathways. The availability of multiple pathways may permit some cell types to divert proteins to specialized compartments, such as the melanosome of pigmented cells. To address this issue, we characterized sorting determinants of tyrosinase, a tissue-specific resident protein of the melanosome. The cytoplasmic domain of tyrosinase was both necessary and sufficient for internalization and steady state localization to late endosomes and lysosomes in HeLa cells. Mutagenesis of two leucine residues within a conventional di-leucine motif ablated late endosomal localization. However, the properties of this di-leucine-based signal were distinguished from that of CD3gamma by overexpression studies; overexpression of the tyrosinase signal, but not the well characterized CD3gamma signal, induced a 4-fold enlargement of late endosomes and lysosomes and interfered with endosomal sorting mediated by both tyrosine- and other di-leucine-based signals. These properties suggest that the tyrosinase and CD3gamma di-leucine signals are distinctly recognized and sorted by distinct pathways to late endosomes in non-pigmented cells. We speculate that melanocytic cells utilize the second pathway to divert proteins to the melanosome.

Efficient endocytosis of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator requires a tyrosine-based signal

We previously demonstrated that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is rapidly endocytosed in epithelial cells (Prince, L. S., Workman, R. B., Jr., and Marchase, R. B. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 91, 5192-5196). To determine the structural features of CFTR required for endocytosis, we prepared chimeric molecules consisting of the amino-terminal (residues 2-78) and carboxyl-terminal tail regions (residues 1391-1476) of CFTR, each fused to the transmembrane and extracellular domains of the transferrin receptor. Functional analysis of the CFTR-(2-78) and CFTR-(1391-1476) indicated that both chimeras were rapidly internalized. Deletion of residues 1440-1476 had no effect on chimera internalization. Mutations of potential internalization signals in both cytoplasmic domains reveal that only one mutation inhibits internalization, Y1424A. Using a surface biotinylation reaction, we also examined internalization rates of wild type and mutant CFTRs expressed in COS-7 cells. We found that both wild type and A1440X CFTR were rapidly internalized, whereas the Y1424A CFTR mutant, like the chimeric protein, had approximately 40% reduced internalization activity. Deletions in the amino-terminal tail region of CFTR resulted in defective trafficking of CFTR out of the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface, suggesting that an intact amino terminus is critical for biosynthesis. In summary, our results suggest that both tail regions of CFTR are sufficient to promote rapid internalization of a reporter molecule and that tyrosine 1424 is required for efficient CFTR endocytosis.