The VINE complex is an endosomal VPS9-domain GEF and SNX-BAR coat

Membrane trafficking pathways perform important roles in establishing and maintaining the endosomal network. Retrograde protein sorting from the endosome is promoted by conserved SNX- BAR-containing coat complexes including retromer which enrich cargo at tubular microdomains and generate transport carriers. In metazoans, retromer cooperates with VARP, a conserved VPS9domain GEF, to direct an endosomal recycling pathway. The function of the yeast VARP homolog Vrl1 has been overlooked due to an inactivating mutation found in commonly studied strains. Here, we demonstrate that Vrl1 has features of a SNX- BAR coat protein and forms an obligate complex with Vin1, the paralog of the retromer SNX- BAR protein Vps5. Unique features in the Vin1 Nterminus allow Vrl1 to distinguish it from Vps5, thereby forming a complex that we have named VINE. The VINE complex occupies endosomal tubules and redistributes a conserved mannose 6-phosphate receptor like protein from endosomes. We also find that membrane recruitment by Vin1 is essential for Vrl1 GEF activity, suggesting that VINE is a multifunctional coat complex that regulates trafficking and signaling events at the endosome.

Automated summary

Membrane trafficking pathways play important roles in establishing and maintaining the endosomal network. The cooperation between retromer and VARP guides the endosomal recycling pathway. In yeast cells, Vrl1 forms a complex named VINE with Vin1, exhibiting features of a SNX-BAR coat protein. The VINE complex redistributes proteins in the endosome.