Aftiphilin is a protein that was recently identified in database searches for proteins with motifs that interact with AP-1 and clathrin, but its function is unknown. Here we demonstrate that aftiphilin has a second, atypical clathrin binding site, YQW, that colocalizes with AP-1 by immunofluorescence, and that is enriched in clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs), confirming that it is a bona fide component of the CCV machinery. By gel filtration, aftiphilin coelutes with two other AP-1 binding partners, p200a and gamma-synergin. Antibodies against any one of these three proteins immunoprecipitate the other two, and knocking down any of the three proteins by siRNA causes a reduction in the levels of the other two, indicating that they form a stable complex. Like AP-1-depleted cells, aftiphilin-depleted cells missort a CD8-furin chimera and the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D. However, whereas AP-1-depleted cells recycle endocytosed transferrin more slowly than untreated cells, aftiphilin-depleted cells accumulate endocytosed transferrin in a peripheral compartment and recycle it more rapidly. These observations show that in general, the aftiphilin/p200/gamma-synergin complex facilitates AP-1 function, but the complex may have additional functions as well, because of the opposing effects of the two knockdowns on transferrin recycling.
