AAK1 (green) colocalizes with endocytic regions (red) in neurons.

Two new studies indicate that cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation may be required during clathrin-mediated endocytosis. A newly identified kinase is responsible for the required phosphorylation.

Clathrin and the adaptor protein 2 (AP2) complex are the major coat proteins of clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). Among components of the AP2 complex are α and β2 adaptins, which mediate AP2 membrane targeting and interactions with clathrin, and the μ2 subunit, which may recognize the endocytic cargo.

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation have been implicated in endocytosis and at least two kinase activities copurify with CCVs. The identity of the kinase and its substrate had not been determined, however. Now, Conner and Schmid (page 921) and Ricotta et al. (page 791) identify one of the kinase activities and demonstrate its effect on cargo binding.

Conner and Schmid show...

The Rockefeller University Press
2002
The Rockefeller University Press
2002
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