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

RNAi-mediated Hip1R Silencing Results in Stable Association between the Endocytic Machinery and the Actin Assembly Machinery

Actin filaments transiently associate with the endocytic machinery during clathrin-coated vesicle formation. Although several proteins that might mediate or regulate this association have been identified, in vivo demonstration of such an activity has not been achieved. Huntingtin interacting protein 1R (Hip1R) is a candidate cytoskeletal-endocytic linker or regulator because it binds to clathrin and actin. Here, Hip1R levels were lowered by RNA interference (RNAi). Surprisingly, rather than disrupting the transient association between endocytic and cytoskeletal proteins, clathrin-coated structures (CCSs) and their endocytic cargo became stably associated with dynamin, actin, the Arp2/3 complex, and its activator, cortactin. RNAi double-depletion experiments demonstrated that accumulation of the cortical actin-endocytic complexes depended on cortactin. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that dynamic actin filament assembly can occur at CCSs. Our results provide evidence that Hip1R helps to make the interaction between actin and the endocytic machinery functional and transient

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