UniProt Protein Function: | Component of the adaptor protein complex 2 (AP-2). Adaptor protein complexes function in protein transport via transport vesicles in different membrane traffic pathways. Adaptor protein complexes are vesicle coat components and appear to be involved in cargo selection and vesicle formation. AP-2 is involved in clathrin-dependent endocytosis in which cargo proteins are incorporated into vesicles surrounded by clathrin (clathrin-coated vesicles, CCVs) which are destined for fusion with the early endosome. The clathrin lattice serves as a mechanical scaffold but is itself unable to bind directly to membrane components. Clathrin-associated adaptor protein (AP) complexes which can bind directly to both the clathrin lattice and to the lipid and protein components of membranes are considered to be the major clathrin adaptors contributing the CCV formation. AP-2 also serves as a cargo receptor to selectively sort the membrane proteins involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis. AP-2 seems to play a role in the recycling of synaptic vesicle membranes from the presynaptic surface. AP-2 recognizes Y-X-X-[FILMV] (Y-X-X-Phi) and [ED]-X-X-X-L-[LI] endocytosis signal motifs within the cytosolic tails of transmembrane cargo molecules. AP-2 may also play a role in maintaining normal post-endocytic trafficking through the ARF6-regulated, non-clathrin pathway. The AP-2 alpha subunit binds polyphosphoinositide-containing lipids, positioning AP-2 on the membrane. The AP-2 alpha subunit acts via its C-terminal appendage domain as a scaffolding platform for endocytic accessory proteins. The AP-2 alpha and AP-2 sigma subunits are thought to contribute to the recognition of the [ED]-X-X-X-L-[LI] motif. |
NCBI Summary: | This gene encodes the alpha 1 adaptin subunit of the adaptor protein 2 (AP-2) complex found in clathrin coated vesicles. The AP-2 complex is a heterotetramer consisting of two large adaptins (alpha or beta), a medium adaptin (mu), and a small adaptin (sigma). The complex is part of the protein coat on the cytoplasmic face of coated vesicles which links clathrin to receptors in vesicles. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants encoding two different isoforms. A third transcript variant has been described, but its full length nature has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008] |
UniProt Code: | O95782 |
NCBI GenInfo Identifier: | 262527580 |
NCBI Gene ID: | 160 |
NCBI Accession: | O95782.3 |
UniProt Secondary Accession: | O95782,Q96CI7, Q96PP6, Q96PP7, Q9H070, |
UniProt Related Accession: | O95782 |
Molecular Weight: | 105,361 Da |
NCBI Full Name: | AP-2 complex subunit alpha-1 |
NCBI Synonym Full Names: | adaptor related protein complex 2 subunit alpha 1 |
NCBI Official Symbol: | AP2A1 |
NCBI Official Synonym Symbols: | ADTAA; CLAPA1; AP2-ALPHA |
NCBI Protein Information: | AP-2 complex subunit alpha-1 |
UniProt Protein Name: | AP-2 complex subunit alpha-1 |
UniProt Synonym Protein Names: | 100 kDa coated vesicle protein A; Adaptor protein complex AP-2 subunit alpha-1; Adaptor-related protein complex 2 subunit alpha-1; Alpha-adaptin A; Alpha1-adaptin; Clathrin assembly protein complex 2 alpha-A large chain; Plasma membrane adaptor HA2/AP2 adaptin alpha A subunit |
Protein Family: | AP-2 complex |
UniProt Gene Name: | AP2A1 |