Membrane targeting by APPL1 and APPL2: dynamic scaffolds that oligomerize and bind phosphoinositides

Traffic. 2008 Feb;9(2):215-29. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00680.x. Epub 2007 Dec 18.

Abstract

Human adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interaction, PH domain and leucine zipper containing 1 (APPL1) and adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interaction, PH domain and leucine zipper containing 2 (APPL2) are homologous effectors of the small guanosine triphosphatase RAB5 that interact with a diverse set of receptors and signaling proteins and are proposed to function in endosome-mediated signaling. Herein, we investigated the membrane-targeting properties of the APPL1 and APPL2 Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR), pleckstrin homology (PH) and phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains. Coimmunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid studies demonstrated that full-length APPL proteins formed homooligomers and heterooligomers and that the APPL minimal BAR domains were necessary and sufficient for mediating APPL-APPL interactions. When fused to a fluorescent protein and overexpressed, all three domains (minimal BAR, PH and PTB) were targeted to cell membranes. Furthermore, full-length APPL proteins bound to phosphoinositides, and the APPL isolated PH or PTB domains were sufficient for in vitro phosphoinositide binding. Live cell imaging showed that full-length APPL-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fusion proteins associated with cytosolic membrane structures that underwent movement, fusion and fission events. Overexpression of full-length APPL-YFP fusion proteins was sufficient to recruit endogenous RAB5 to enlarged APPL-associated membrane structures, although APPL1 was not necessary for RAB5 membrane targeting. Taken together, our findings suggest a role for APPL proteins as dynamic scaffolds that modulate RAB5-associated signaling endosomal membranes by their ability to undergo domain-mediated oligomerization, membrane targeting and phosphoinositide binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phosphatidylinositols / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • APPL1 protein, human
  • APPL2 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Phosphatidylinositols
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins