Degradation of endocytosed epidermal growth factor and virally ubiquitinated major histocompatibility complex class I is independent of mammalian ESCRTII.
Models for protein sorting at multivesicular bodies in the endocytic pathway of mammalian cells have relied largely on data obtained from yeast. These data suggest the essential role of four ESCRT complexes in multivesicular body protein sorting. However, the putative mammalian ESCRTII complex (hVps25p, hVps22p, and hVps36p) has no proven functional role in endosomal transport. We have characterized the human ESCRTII complex and investigated its function in endosomal trafficking. The human ESCRTII proteins interact with one another, with hVps20p (a component of ESCRTIII), and with their yeast homologues. Our interaction data from yeast two-hybrid studies along with experiments with purified proteins suggest an essential role for the N-terminal domain of hVps22p in the formation of a heterotetrameric ESCRTII complex. Although human ESCRTII is found in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, it can be recruited to endosomes upon overexpression of dominant-negative hVps4Bp. Interestingly, we find that small interference RNA depletion of mammalian ESCRTII does not affect degradation of epidermal growth factor, a known cargo of the multivesicular body protein sorting pathway. We also show that depletion of the deubiquitinating enzymes AMSH (associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM (signal transducing adaptor molecule)) and UBPY (ubiquitin isopeptidase Y) have opposite effects on epidermal growth factor degradation, with UBPY depletion causing dramatic swelling of endosomes. Down-regulation of another cargo, the major histocompatibility complex class I in cells expressing the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus protein K3, is unaffected in ESCRTII-depleted cells. Our data suggest that mammalian ESCRTII may be redundant, cargo-specific, or not required for protein sorting at the multivesicular body.
Bowers
Katherine
K
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XY, United Kingdom. kb123@cam.ac.uk
Piper
Siân C
SC
Edeling
Melissa A
MA
Gray
Sally R
SR
Owen
David J
DJ
Lehner
Paul J
PJ
Luzio
J Paul
JP
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004705:Endocytosis; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006367:HeLa Cells; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051907:Lysosomal Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000737:chemistry*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D051907:Lysosomal Membrane Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D025801:Ubiquitin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor