Clathrin-mediated EGFR endocytosis as a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming primary resistance of EGFR TKI in wild-type EGFR non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Oncogenic alterations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling are frequently noted in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In recent decades, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed, although the therapeutic efficacy of these inhibitor is restricted to EGFR-mutant patients. In this study, we investigated that clathrin-mediated EGFR endocytosis hampers the effects of gefitinib and sustains NSCLC cells with wild-type EGFR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NSCLC cell lines (H358, Calu-3, SNU-1327, and H1703) were stimulated with the EGF and treated with gefitinib and endocytosis inhibitors (phenylarsine oxide (PAO) and Filipin III). Growth inhibition and apoptosis were evaluated. Immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and western blot assay were performed to investigate EGFR endocytosis and determine the signaling pathway. Xenograft mouse models were used to verify the combination effect of gefitinib and PAO in vivo. RESULTS: We confirmed the differences in EGFR endocytosis according to gefitinib response in wild-type EGFR NSCLC cell lines. EGFR in gefitinib-sensitive and -refractory cell lines tended to internalize through distinct routes, caveolin-mediated endocytosis (CVE), and clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Interestingly, while suppressing CME and CVE did not affect cell survival in sensitive cell lines significantly, CME inhibition combined with gefitinib treatment decreased cell survival and induced apoptosis in gefitinib-refractory cell lines. In addition, blocking CME in the refractory cell lines led to downregulate of p-STAT3 and inhibit nuclear localization of STAT3 in vivo, combination treatment with gefitinib and a CME inhibitor resulted in tumor regression accompanying apoptosis in xenograft mouse models. CONCLUSION: Clathrin-mediated EGFR endocytosis contribute primary resistance of gefitinib treatment and CME inhibition combined with gefitinib could be an option in treatment of wild-type EGFR NSCLC.

Endoplasmic reticulum as a potential therapeutic target for covid-19 infection management?

In December 2019, many pneumonia cases with unidentified sources appeared in Wuhan, Hubei, China, with clinical symptoms like viral pneumonia. Deep sequencing analysis of samples from lower respiratory tract revealed a novel coronavirus, called 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Currently there is a rapid global spread. World Health Organization declare the disease a pandemic condition. The pathologic source of this disease was a new RNA virus from Coronaviridae family, which was named COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 entry starts with the binding of the spike glycoprotein expressed on the viral envelope to ACE2 on the alveolar surface followed by clathrin-dependent endocytosis of the SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 complex. SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells through endocytosis process, which is possibly facilitated, via a pH dependent endosomal cysteine protease cathepsins. Once inside the cells, SARS-CoV-2 exploits the endogenous transcriptional machinery of alveolar cells to replicate and spread through the entire lung. Endosomal acidic pH for SARS-CoV-2 processing and internalization is critical. After entering the cells, it possibly activates or hijack many intracellular pathways in favor of its replication. In the current opinion article, we will explain the possible involvement of unfolded protein response as a cellular stress response to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis for COVID-19 drug repurposing.

The quest for the effective treatment against coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus 2(CoV-2) coronavirus is hampered by the lack of knowledge concerning the basic cell biology of the infection. Given that most viruses use endocytosis to enter the host cell, mechanistic investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to consider the diversity of endocytic pathways available for SARS-CoV-2 entry in the human lung epithelium. Taking advantage of the well-established methodology of membrane trafficking studies, this research direction allows for the rapid characterisation of the key cell biological mechanism(s) responsible for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, 11 clinically approved generic drugs are identified as potential candidates for repurposing as blockers of several potential routes for SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis. More broadly, the paradigm of targeting a fundamental aspect of human cell biology to protect against infection may be advantageous in the context of future pandemic outbreaks.

Repurposing chlorpromazine to treat COVID-19: The reCoVery study.

OBJECTIVES: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused approximately 2,350,000 infections worldwide and killed more than 160,000 individuals. In Sainte-Anne Hospital (GHU PARIS Psychiatrie & Neuroscience, Paris, France) we have observed a lower incidence of symptomatic forms of COVID-19 among patients than among our clinical staff. This observation led us to hypothesize that psychotropic drugs could have a prophylactic action against SARS-CoV-2 and protect patients from the symptomatic and virulent forms of this infection, since several of these psychotropic drugs have documented antiviral properties. Chlorpromazine (CPZ), a phenothiazine derivative, is also known for its antiviral activity via the inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Recentin vitro studies have reported that CPZ exhibits anti-MERS-CoV and anti-SARS-CoV-1 activity. METHODS: In this context, the ReCoVery study aims to repurpose CPZ, a molecule with an excellent tolerance profile and a very high biodistribution in the saliva, lungs and brain. We hypothesize that CPZ could reduce the unfavorable course of COVID-19 infection among patients requiring respiratory support without the need for ICU care, and that it could also reduce the contagiousness of SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, we plan a pilot, multicenter, randomized, single blind, controlled, phase III therapeutic trial (standard treatment vs. CPZ+standard treatment). CONCLUSION: This repurposing of CPZ for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity could offer an alternative, rapid strategy to alleviate infection severity. This repurposing strategy also avoids numerous developmental and experimental steps, and could save precious time to rapidly establish an anti-COVID-19 therapy with well-known, limited and easily managed side effects.

Identifying Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Clathrin Terminal Domain.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a universal and evolutionarily conserved process that enables the internalization of numerous cargo proteins, including receptors for nutrients and signaling molecules, as well as synaptic vesicle reformation. Multiple genetic and chemical approaches have been developed to interfere with this process. However, many of these tools do not selectively block CME, for example by targeting components shared with clathrin-independent endocytosis pathways or by interfering with other cellular processes that indirectly affect CME.Clathrin, via interactions of endocytic proteins with its terminal domain (TD), serves as a central interaction hub for coat assembly in CME. Here, we describe an ELISA-based, high-throughput screening method used to identify small molecules that inhibit these interactions. In addition, we provide protocols for the purification of recombinant protein domains used for screening, e.g., the clathrin TD and the amphiphysin B/C domain. The screen has been applied successfully in the past, and ultimately led to the discovery of the Pitstop® family of inhibitors, but remains in use to evaluate the inhibitory potency of derivatives of these compounds, and to screen for completely novel inhibitor families.

Phosphorylated EGFR Dimers Are Not Sufficient to Activate Ras.

Growth factor binding to EGFR drives conformational changes that promote homodimerization and transphosphorylation, followed by adaptor recruitment, oligomerization, and signaling through Ras. Whether specific receptor conformations and oligomerization states are necessary for efficient activation of Ras is unclear. We therefore evaluated the sufficiency of a phosphorylated EGFR dimer to activate Ras without growth factor by developing a chemical-genetic strategy to crosslink and "trap" full-length EGFR homodimers on cells. Trapped dimers become phosphorylated and recruit adaptor proteins at stoichiometry equivalent to that of EGF-stimulated receptors. Surprisingly, these phosphorylated dimers do not activate Ras, Erk, or Akt. In the absence of EGF, phosphorylated dimers do not further oligomerize or reorganize on cell membranes. These results suggest that a phosphorylated EGFR dimer loaded with core signaling adapters is not sufficient to activate Ras and that EGFR ligands contribute to conformational changes or receptor dynamics necessary for oligomerization and efficient signal propagation through the SOS-Ras-MAPK pathway.

Nitrosative stress uncovers potent ß2-adrenergic receptor-linked vasodilation further enhanced by blockade of clathrin endosome formation.

This study investigated the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) preexposure on vasodilation via the ß-adrenergic receptor (BAR) system. SNP was used as a nitrosative/oxidative proinflammatory insult. Small arterioles were visualized by intravital microscopy in the hamster cheek pouch tissue (isoflurane, n = 45). Control dilation to isoproterenol (EC50: 10-7 mol/l) became biphasic as a function of concentration after 2 min of exposure to SNP (10-4 M), with increased potency at picomolar dilation uncovered and decreased efficacy at the micromolar dilation. Control dilation to curcumin was likewise altered after SNP, but only the increased potency at a low dose was uncovered, whereas micromolar dilation was eliminated. The picomolar dilations were blocked by the potent BAR-2 inverse agonist carazolol (10-9 mol/l). Dynamin inhibition with dynasore mimicked this effect, suggesting that SNP preexposure prevented BAR agonist internalization. Using HeLa cells transfected with BAR-2 tagged with monomeric red fluorescent protein, exposure to 10-8-10-6 mol/l curcumin resulted in internalization and colocalization of BAR-2 and curcumin (FRET) that was prevented by oxidative stress (10-3 mol/l CoCl2), supporting that stress prevented internalization of the BAR agonist with the micromolar agonist. This study presents novel data supporting that distinct pools of BARs are differentially available after inflammatory insult. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Preexposure to an oxidative/nitrosative proinflammatory insult provides a "protective preconditioning" against future oxidative damage. We examined immediate vasoactive and molecular consequences of a brief preexposure via ß-adrenergic receptor signaling in small arterioles. Blocked receptor internalization with elevated reactive oxygen levels coincides with a significant and unexpected vasodilation to ß-adrenergic agonists at picomolar doses.

Electron Microscopic Study of the Inner Medulla in Rat Kidneys under Conditions of Vasopressin Treatment Combined with Prostaglandin Synthesis Blockade.

Ultrastructural changes in cells of the renal inner medulla involved in the realization of the antidiuretic effect of vasopressin under conditions of prostaglandin synthesis blockade were studied in the kidneys of Wistar rats and endogenous vasopressin-deficient homozygous Brattleboro rats. The results indicated uniform trend to an increase in the number of clathrincoated vesicles under conditions of hormone treatment combined with prostaglandin synthesis blockade in animals with different neurohypophyseal status. These changes reflected translocation of aquaporins and an increase in the permeability of the collecting tubular epithelium for water. Brattleboro rats, but not Wistar rats, exhibited ultrastructural signs of synthesis activation in the epithelium and widening of the intercellular gaps, which could indicate more intense paracellular water transport.

Differential Regulation of Clathrin and Its Adaptor Proteins during Membrane Recruitment for Endocytosis.

In plants, clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is dependent on the function of clathrin and its accessory heterooligomeric adaptor protein complexes, ADAPTOR PROTEIN2 (AP-2) and the TPLATE complex (TPC), and is negatively regulated by the hormones auxin and salicylic acid (SA). The details for how clathrin and its adaptor complexes are recruited to the plasma membrane (PM) to regulate CME, however, are poorly understood. We found that SA and the pharmacological CME inhibitor tyrphostin A23 reduce the membrane association of clathrin and AP-2, but not that of the TPC, whereas auxin solely affected clathrin membrane association, in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Genetic and pharmacological experiments revealed that loss of AP2µ or AP2σ partially affected the membrane association of other AP-2 subunits and that the AP-2 subunit AP2σ, but not AP2µ, was required for SA- and tyrphostin A23-dependent inhibition of CME Furthermore, we show that although AP-2 and the TPC are both required for the PM recruitment of clathrin in wild-type cells, the TPC is necessary for clathrin PM association in AP-2-deficient cells. These results indicate that developmental signals may differentially modulate the membrane recruitment of clathrin and its core accessory complexes to regulate the process of CME in plant cells.

Chemokine Transfer by Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Contributes to the Recruitment of CD4+ T Cells into the Murine Liver.

Leukocyte adhesion and transmigration are central features governing immune surveillance and inflammatory reactions in body tissues. Within the liver sinusoids, chemokines initiate the first crucial step of T-cell migration into the hepatic tissue. We studied molecular mechanisms involved in endothelial chemokine supply during hepatic immune surveillance and liver inflammation and their impact on the recruitment of CD4(+) T cells into the liver. In the murine model of Concanavalin A-induced T cell-mediated hepatitis, we showed that hepatic expression of the inflammatory CXC chemokine ligands (CXCL)9 and CXCL10 strongly increased whereas homeostatic CXCL12 significantly decreased. Consistently, CD4(+) T cells expressing the CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)3 accumulated within the inflamed liver tissue. In histology, CXCL9 was associated with liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) which represent the first contact site for T-cell immigration into the liver. LSEC actively transferred basolaterally internalized CXCL12, CXCL9 and CXCL10 via clathrin-coated vesicles to CD4(+) T cells leading to enhanced transmigration of CXCR4(+) total CD4(+) T cells and CXCR3(+) effector/memory CD4(+) T cells, respectively in vitro. LSEC-expressed CXCR4 mediated CXCL12 transport and blockage of endothelial CXCR4 inhibited CXCL12-dependent CD4(+) T-cell transmigration. In contrast, CXCR3 was not involved in the endothelial transport of its ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10. The clathrin-specific inhibitor chlorpromazine blocked endothelial chemokine internalization and CD4(+) T-cell transmigration in vitro as well as migration of CD4(+) T cells into the inflamed liver in vivo. Moreover, hepatic accumulation of CXCR3(+) CD4(+) T cells during T cell-mediated hepatitis was strongly reduced after administration of chlorpromazine. These data demonstrate that LSEC actively provide perivascularly expressed homeostatic and inflammatory chemokines by CXCR4- and clathrin-dependent intracellular transport mechanisms thereby contributing to the hepatic recruitment of CD4(+) T-cell populations during immune surveillance and liver inflammation.

Ultrastructural correlates of antidiuretic response of rat kidney.

We studied ultrastructural features of epithelial cells of the inner medullary collecting tubules in Brattleboro and Wistar under the action of desmopressin (dDAVP, 5 µg/100 g body weight for 2 days). Intracellular reorganization of transepithelial barrier for osmotic water transport depended on the capacity of rats to the synthesis of endogenous vasopressin.

LPS or ethanol triggers clathrin- and rafts/caveolae-dependent endocytosis of TLR4 in cortical astrocytes.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation and signalling in glial cells play critical roles in neurological disorders and in alcohol-induced brain damage. TLR4 endocytosis upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation regulates which signalling pathway is activated, the MyD88-dependent or the TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-ß (TRIF)-dependent pathway. However, it remains elusive whether ethanol-induced TLR4 signalling is associated with receptor internalization and trafficking, and which endocytic pathway(s) are used in cortical astrocytes. Using the adenoviral over-expression of TLR4(GFP) , confocal microscopy and the imagestream technique, we show that upon ethanol or LPS stimulation, TLR4 co-localizes with markers of the clathrin and caveolin endocytic pathways, and that this endocytosis is dependent on dynamin. Using chlorpromazin and filipin as inhibitors of the clathrin and rafts/caveolae endocytic pathways, respectively, we demostrate that TRIF-dependent signalling relies on an intact clathrin pathway, whereas disruption of rafts/caveolae inhibits the MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signalling pathways. Immunofluorescence studies also suggest that lipid rafts and clathrin cooperate for appropriate TLR4 internalization. We also show that ethanol can trigger similar endocytic pathways as LPS does, although ethanol delays clathrin internalization and alters TLR4 vesicular trafficking. Our results provide new insights into the effects of ethanol or LPS on TLR4 signalling in cortical astrocytes, events that may underlie neuroinflammation and brain damage. The results demonstrate that ethanol or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) endocytosis by caveolae and clathrin-dependent pathways in astrocytes. We proposed that while clathrin is the protein responsible for TLR4 internalization, caveolin-1/lipid rafts membrane microdomains are required for TLR4 signaling. The results provide new insights into the effects of ethanol on TLR4 signalling in astrocytes, events that may underlie neuroinflammation.

Activity-induced convergence of APP and BACE-1 in acidic microdomains via an endocytosis-dependent pathway.

The convergence of APP (substrate) and BACE-1 (enzyme) is a rate-limiting, obligatory event triggering the amyloidogenic pathway-a key step in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, as both APP/BACE-1 are highly expressed in brain, mechanisms precluding their unabated convergence are unclear. Exploring dynamic localization of APP/BACE-1 in cultured hippocampal neurons, we found that after synthesis via the secretory pathway, dendritic APP/BACE-1-containing vesicles are largely segregated in physiologic states. While BACE-1 is sorted into acidic recycling endosomes, APP is conveyed in Golgi-derived vesicles. However, upon activity induction-a known trigger of the amyloidogenic pathway-APP is routed into BACE-1-positive recycling endosomes via a clathrin-dependent mechanism. A partitioning/convergence of APP/BACE-1 vesicles is also apparent in control/AD brains, respectively. Considering BACE-1 is optimally active in an acidic environment, our experiments suggest that neurons have evolved trafficking strategies that normally limit APP/BACE-1 proximity and also uncover a pathway routing APP into BACE-1-containing organelles, triggering amyloidogenesis.

The effect of clozapine on mRNA expression for genes encoding G protein-coupled receptors and the protein components of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

OBJECTIVES: Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is an intracellular trafficking mechanism for packaging cargo, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), into clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). The antipsychotic chlorpromazine inhibits CCV assembly of adaptor protein AP2 whereas clozapine increases serotonin2A receptor internalization. We hypothesized that clozapine alters the expression of CME genes modulating vesicle turnover and GPCR internalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were incubated with clozapine (1-20 µmol/l) for 24-72 h. GPCR and CME-related gene mRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR. We quantified changes in the same genes using expression data from a microarray study of mice brains after 12 weeks of treatment with 12 mg/kg/day clozapine. RESULTS: The expression of genes encoding adaptor and clathrin assembly proteins, AP2A2, AP2B1, AP180, CLINT1, HIP1, ITSN2, and PICALM, increased relative to the control in SH-SY5Y cells incubated with 5-10 µmol/l clozapine for 24-72 h. The microarray study showed significantly altered expression of the above CME-related genes, with a marked 641-fold and 17-fold increase in AP180 and the serotonin1A GPCR, respectively. The expression of three serotonergic receptor and lysophosphatidic acid receptor 2 (EDG4) GPCR genes was upregulated in SH-SY5Y cells incubated with 5 µmol/l clozapine for 24 h. EDG4 expression was also increased with 10-20 µmol/l clozapine treatment at 48-72 h. Clozapine significantly decreased the expression of ß-arrestin, involved in GPCR desensitization, both in vitro and vivo. CONCLUSION: The changes we report in CME and GPCR mRNAs implicate CCV-mediated internalization of GPCRs and the serotonergic system in clozapine's mechanism of action, which may be useful in the design of more effective and less toxic antipsychotic therapies.

Targeting membrane trafficking in infection prophylaxis: dynamin inhibitors.

Many pathogens hijack existing endocytic trafficking pathways to exert toxic effects in cells. Dynamin controls various steps of the intoxication process used by numerous pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Targeting dynamin with pharmaceutical compounds may therefore have prophylactic potential. Here we review the growing number of pathogens requiring dynamin-dependent trafficking to intoxicate cells, outline the mode of internalization that leads to their pathogenicity, and highlight the protective effect of pharmacological and genetic approaches targeting dynamin function. We also assess the methodologies used to investigate the role of dynamin in the intoxication process and discuss the validity and potential pitfalls of using dynamin inhibitors (DIs) as therapeutics.

Dynamic behavior of clathrin in Arabidopsis thaliana unveiled by live imaging.

Clathrin-coated vesicles (CCV) are necessary for selective transport events, including receptor-mediated endocytosis on the plasma membrane and cargo molecule sorting in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Components involved in CCV formation include clathrin heavy and light chains and several adaptor proteins that are conserved among plants. Clathrin-dependent endocytosis has been shown to play an integral part in plant endocytosis. However, little information is known about clathrin dynamics in living plant cells. In this study, we have visualized clathrin in Arabidopsis thaliana by tagging clathrin light chain with green fluorescent protein (CLC-GFP). Quantitative evaluations of colocalization demonstrate that the majority of CLC-GFP is localized to the TGN, and a minor population is associated with multivesicular endosomes and the Golgi trans-cisternae. Live imaging further demonstrated the presence of highly dynamic clathrin-positive tubules and vesicles, which appeared to mediate interactions between the TGNs. CLC-GFP is also targeted to cell plates and the plasma membrane. Although CLC-GFP colocalizes with a dynamin isoform at the plasma membrane, these proteins exhibit distinct distributions at newly forming cell plates. This finding indicates independent functions of CLC (clathrin light chains) and dynamin during the formation of cell plates. We have also found that brefeldin A and wortmannin treatment causes distinctly different alterations in the dynamics and distribution of clathrin-coated domains at the plasma membrane. This could account for the different effects of these drugs on plant endocytosis.

Lysine acetylation induced by chronic ethanol consumption impairs dynamin-mediated clathrin-coated vesicle release.

UNLABELLED: The liver is the major site of ethanol metabolism and thus sustains the most injury from chronic alcohol consumption. Ethanol metabolism by the hepatocyte leads to the generation of reactive metabolites and oxygen radicals that can readily adduct DNA, lipids, and proteins. More recently, it has become apparent that ethanol consumption also leads to increased post-translational modifications of the natural repertoire, including lysine hyperacetylation. Previously, we determined that alcohol consumption selectively impairs clathrin-mediated internalization in polarized hepatocytes. However, neither the step at which the block occurs nor the mechanism responsible for the defect have been identified. To identify the specific step at which clathrin-mediated internalization is impaired, we examined the distributions, levels, and assembly of selected components of the clathrin machinery in control and ethanol-treated cells. To determine whether the impairment is caused by ethanol-induced lysine acetylation, we also examined the same coat components in cells treated with trichostatin A (TSA), a deacetylase inhibitor that leads to protein hyperacetylation in the absence of ethanol. CONCLUSION: We determined that both ethanol and TSA impair internalization at a late stage before vesicle fission. We further determined that this defect is likely the result of decreased dynamin recruitment to the necks of clathrin-coated invaginations resulting in impaired vesicle budding. These results also raise the exciting possibility that agents that promote lysine deacetylation may be effective therapeutics for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

Actin dynamics counteract membrane tension during clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is independent of actin dynamics in many circumstances but requires actin polymerization in others. We show that membrane tension determines the actin dependence of clathrin-coat assembly. As found previously, clathrin assembly supports formation of mature coated pits in the absence of actin polymerization on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of non-polarized mammalian cells, and also on basolateral surfaces of polarized cells. Actin engagement is necessary, however, to complete membrane deformation into a coated pit on apical surfaces of polarized cells and, more generally, on the surface of any cell in which the plasma membrane is under tension from osmotic swelling or mechanical stretching. We use these observations to alter actin dependence experimentally and show that resistance of the membrane to propagation of the clathrin lattice determines the distinction between 'actin dependent and 'actin independent'. We also find that light-chain-bound Hip1R mediates actin engagement. These data thus provide a unifying explanation for the role of actin dynamics in coated-pit budding.

Clathrin-dependent mechanisms modulate the subcellular distribution of class C Vps/HOPS tether subunits in polarized and nonpolarized cells.

Coats define the composition of carriers budding from organelles. In addition, coats interact with membrane tethers required for vesicular fusion. The yeast AP-3 (Adaptor Protein Complex 3) coat and the class C Vps/HOPS (HOmotypic fusion and Protein Sorting) tether follow this model as their interaction occurs at the carrier fusion step. Here we show that mammalian Vps class C/HOPS subunits and clathrin interact and that acute perturbation of clathrin function disrupts the endosomal distribution of Vps class C/HOPS tethers in HEK293T and polarized neuronal cells. Vps class C/HOPS subunits and clathrin exist in complex with either AP-3 or hepatocyte growth factor receptor substrate (Hrs). Moreover, Vps class C/HOPS proteins cofractionate with clathrin-coated vesicles, which are devoid of Hrs. Expression of FK506 binding protein (FKBP)-clathrin light chain chimeras, to inhibit clathrin membrane association dynamics, increased Vps class C/HOPS subunit content in rab5 endosomal compartments. Additionally, Vps class C/HOPS subunits were concentrated at tips of neuronal processes, and their delivery was impaired by expression of FKBP-clathrin chimeras and AP20187 incubation. These data support a model in which Vps class C/HOPS subunits incorporate into clathrin-coated endosomal domains and carriers in mammalian cells. We propose that vesicular (AP-3) and nonvesicular (Hrs) clathrin mechanisms segregate class C Vps/HOPS tethers to organelles and domains of mammalian cells bearing complex architectures.