Medium chains of adaptor complexes AP-1 and AP-2 recognize leucine-based sorting signals from the invariant chain.

Interactions between tyrosine- and leucine-based sorting signals in the cytoplasmic tails of transmembrane proteins and adaptor complexes AP-1 and AP-2 are believed to be the first step in the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles that deliver these proteins to their destination. Medium chains of AP-1 and AP-2 have been reported to interact with tyrosine-based sorting signals in a number of in vitro assays. In the present study we found that recombinant medium chains could interact with leucine-based sorting signals from the cytoplasmic tail of the invariant chain. Medium chains may therefore be responsible for the proper recognition of both tyrosine and leucine sorting signals by AP-1 and AP-2 complexes.