![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/AP-2_complex.png/220px-AP-2_complex.png)
The AP2 adaptor complex is a multimeric protein that works on the cell membrane to internalize cargo in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.[1] It is a stable complex of four adaptins which give rise to a structure that has a core domain and two appendage domains attached to the core domain by polypeptide linkers. These appendage domains are sometimes called 'ears'. The core domain binds to the membrane and to cargo destined for internalisation. The alpha and beta appendage domains bind to accessory proteins and to clathrin. Their interactions allow the temporal and spatial regulation of the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicles and their endocytosis.
The AP-2 complex is a heterotetramer consisting of two large adaptins (α and β), a medium adaptin (μ), and a small adaptin (σ):
Structure
The AP2 adaptor complex exists in two primary conformations: the open conformation (active state) and the closed conformation (inactive state).[2] In its active state, the clathrin binding site found on the β subunit and the cargo binding site found on the μ subunit are exposed to the cytosol,[2] allowing their respective interactions to occur. In its inactive state, the complex experiences a conformational change that causes both sites to be covered, preventing its primary functions.[3] The α and β heavy chains of the complex make up about 60% of the polypeptide sequence of AP2 and are tightly structured into 14 HEAT repeats which form zigzagging α-helical structures that interact with the helical "legs" of the clathrin trimer.[4][2]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Ap2colorcropped.jpg/220px-Ap2colorcropped.jpg)
Function
AP2 facilitates the assembly of clathrin lattices when endocytosis needs to occur, by aggregating together with other AP2 complexes, in their active conformation.[4] These AP2 aggregates interact with individual clathrin proteins by their β-active sites, orienting them into the clathrin "cages" that form the endocytic coat.[4]
Regulation
The regulation of AP2 activity is primarily done through conformational rearrangements of the structure into two distinct (and a potential third and fourth) conformations. The "open" conformation is the active state of the complex, as the "pits" or active binding sites for clathrins and the cargo are uncovered. On the other hand, the "closed" conformation is denoted by the closing or inaccessibility of these same sites.[6]
Activation
The presence of clathrins have been found to induce binding to cargo, and similarly, presence of cargo appears to induce clathrin binding. This is thought to occur by a secondary stabilization of the complex structure, which would allow partial activation, or access, to the respective pits.[7][8] Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) serves as a signal sequence that binds and is recognized by AP2. PIP2 can be found within liposomes containing cargo, which interact with AP2 to then bind clathrin and execute its function. In the closed form, the PIP2 binding site is exposed, allowing for the conformational regulation to occur.[9] Because of this, a certain order of slight conformational changes bring about the fully open conformation, beginning with PIP2 binding, then cargo sequence binding, and finally clathrin binding.[9] A family of proteins called muniscins are thought to be the primary allosteric activators of the AP2 adaptor complex,[10] due to their prevalence in AP2 associated pits and their inhibition resulting in the decrease in AP2 mediated endocytosis.[11][12] Additionally, the complex has been found to be regulated and activated by phosphorylation of its (mu) subunit.[13][14]
Deactivation
Deactivation, or change into the "closed" conformation, is still unclear. NECAPs are thought the play a role in it, by binding to the α subunit of AP2.[6] Not much is known, but the open conformation of AP2, which is phosphorylated, appears to be necessary for NECAP1 to bind within its core.[3] The process of action is still unknown, but this interaction causes the dephosphorylation of the AP2 adaptor complex, thus deactivating it.
Medical Relevance
AP2 has been identified to intimately participate in autophagic cellular pathways, responsible for the degradation of aggregated protein.[15] In fact, it's seen to complex with phosphatidylinositol clathrin assembly lymphoid-myeloid leukemia (PICALM), which would serve as an important receptor group for microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). LC3 has an important role in some autophagic pathways.[16] Because of this, there is suspicion that AP2 deficiency or dysfunction may be a precursor for the development of familial Alzheimer's Disease.[15]
See also
References
- ^ Pearse BM, Smith CJ, Owen DJ (April 2000). "Clathrin coat construction in endocytosis". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 10 (2): 220–228. doi:10.1016/S0959-440X(00)00071-3. PMID 10753805. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c Collins BM, McCoy AJ, Kent HM, Evans PR, Owen DJ (2002-05-17). "Molecular Architecture and Functional Model of the Endocytic AP2 Complex". Cell. 109 (4): 523–535. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00735-3. PMID 12086608.
- ^ a b Beacham GM, Partlow EA, Lange JJ, Hollopeter G (January 2018). "NECAPs are negative regulators of the AP2 clathrin adaptor complex". eLife. 7: e32242. doi:10.7554/eLife.32242. PMC 5785209. PMID 29345618.
- ^ a b c Kirchhausen T, Owen D, Harrison SC (May 2014). "Molecular structure, function, and dynamics of clathrin-mediated membrane traffic". Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 6 (5): a016725. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a016725. PMC 3996469. PMID 24789820.
- ^ Partlow EA, Baker RW, Beacham GM, Chappie JS, Leschziner AE, Hollopeter G (August 2019). "A structural mechanism for phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of the AP2 complex". eLife. 8: e50003. doi:10.7554/eLife.50003. PMC 6739873. PMID 31464684.
- ^ a b Beacham GM, Partlow EA, Hollopeter G (October 2019). "Conformational regulation of AP1 and AP2 clathrin adaptor complexes". Traffic. 20 (10): 741–751. doi:10.1111/tra.12677. PMC 6774827. PMID 31313456.
- ^ Ehrlich M, Boll W, Van Oijen A, Hariharan R, Chandran K, Nibert ML, Kirchhausen T (September 2004). "Endocytosis by random initiation and stabilization of clathrin-coated pits". Cell. 118 (5): 591–605. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2004.08.017. PMID 15339664.
- ^ Rapoport I, Miyazaki M, Boll W, Duckworth B, Cantley LC, Shoelson S, Kirchhausen T (May 1997). "Regulatory interactions in the recognition of endocytic sorting signals by AP-2 complexes". The EMBO Journal. 16 (9): 2240–2250. doi:10.1093/emboj/16.9.2240. PMC 1169826. PMID 9171339.
- ^ a b Kadlecova Z, Spielman SJ, Loerke D, Mohanakrishnan A, Reed DK, Schmid SL (January 2017). "Regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by hierarchical allosteric activation of AP2". The Journal of Cell Biology. 216 (1): 167–179. doi:10.1083/jcb.201608071. PMC 5223608. PMID 28003333.
- ^ Reider A, Barker SL, Mishra SK, Im YJ, Maldonado-Báez L, Hurley JH, et al. (October 2009). "Syp1 is a conserved endocytic adaptor that contains domains involved in cargo selection and membrane tubulation". The EMBO Journal. 28 (20): 3103–3116. doi:10.1038/emboj.2009.248. PMC 2771086. PMID 19713939.
- ^ Henne WM, Boucrot E, Meinecke M, Evergren E, Vallis Y, Mittal R, McMahon HT (June 2010). "FCHo proteins are nucleators of clathrin-mediated endocytosis". Science. 328 (5983): 1281–1284. doi:10.1126/science.1188462. PMC 2883440. PMID 20448150.
- ^ Cocucci E, Aguet F, Boulant S, Kirchhausen T (August 2012). "The first five seconds in the life of a clathrin-coated pit". Cell. 150 (3): 495–507. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2012.05.047. PMC 3413093. PMID 22863004.
- ^ Ghosh P, Kornfeld S (March 2003). "AP-1 binding to sorting signals and release from clathrin-coated vesicles is regulated by phosphorylation". The Journal of Cell Biology. 160 (5): 699–708. doi:10.1083/jcb.200211080. PMC 2173368. PMID 12604586.
- ^ Ricotta D, Conner SD, Schmid SL, von Figura K, Honing S (March 2002). "Phosphorylation of the AP2 mu subunit by AAK1 mediates high affinity binding to membrane protein sorting signals". The Journal of Cell Biology. 156 (5): 791–795. doi:10.1083/jcb.200111068. PMC 2173304. PMID 11877457.
- ^ a b Tian Y, Chang JC, Fan EY, Flajolet M, Greengard P (October 2013). "Adaptor complex AP2/PICALM, through interaction with LC3, targets Alzheimer's APP-CTF for terminal degradation via autophagy". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110 (42): 17071–17076. doi:10.1073/pnas.1315110110. PMC 3801056. PMID 24067654.
- ^ Dhingra A, Alexander D, Reyes-Reveles J, Sharp R, Boesze-Battaglia K (2018). "Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 (LC3) Isoforms in RPE and Retina". Retinal Degenerative Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 1074. pp. 609–616. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-75402-4_74. ISBN 978-3-319-75401-7. PMID 29721994.