Rme-1 regulates the distribution and function of the endocytic recycling compartment in mammalian cells

RME-1 is an Epsl5-homology (EH)-domain protein that was identified in a genetic screen for endocytosis genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. When expressed in a CHO cell line the worm RME-1 protein and a mouse homologue are both associated with the endocytic recycling compartment. Here we show that expression of a dominant-negative construct with a point mutation near the EH domain results in redistribution of the endocytic recycling compartment and slowing down of transferrin receptor recycling. The delivery of a TGN38 chimaeric protein to the trans-Golgi network is also slowed down. The function of Rme-1 in endocytic recycling is evolutionarily conserved in metazoans as shown by the protein's properties in C. elegans.