Decreased endosomal delivery of major histocompatibility complex class II-invariant chain complexes in dynamin-deficient cells

Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules are heterodimeric cell surface molecules which acquire antigenic peptides in the endosomal/lysosomal system. Invariant chain (Ii), a third chain which is associated with class II molecules intracellularly mediates the endosomal targeting, but it is debated whether class II molecules reach the endosomal system mainly from the trans-Golgi network or via the cell surface. Dynamin is a cytosolic GTPase which is necessary for the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane, but which is not required for vesicle formation from the trans-Golgi network. Here we have used HeLa cells expressing a dominant negative form of dynamin to show that inhibition of clathrin-mediated uptake from the plasma membrane leads to accumulation of transfected Ii-class II complexes at the cell surface, while delivery of such complexes to endosomes/lysosomes is decreased. Our data therefore suggest that in this experimental system the majority of Ii-class II complexes traverse the cell surface before they reach the endosomal system.