Intracellular localization of GGA accessory protein p56 in cell lines and central nervous system neurons

Adaptor protein complex-1 (AP-1) and Golgi associated, γ-adaptin ear containing, Arf binding proteins (GGAs) are clathrin adaptors that regulate membrane trafficking between the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomes. p56 is a clathrin adaptor accessory protein that may modulate the function of GGAs in mammalian cell lines. However, the precise relationship between p56 and the three GGAs (GGA1-3), as well as the physiological role of p56 in tissue cells, remain unknown. To this end, we generated an antibody against p56 and determined its cellular localization. In ARPE-19 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, p56 was found to be localized as fine puncta in the TGN. Interestingly, the depletion of each clathrin adaptor by RNAi revealed that this localization was dependent on the expression of GGA1, but not that of GGA2, GGA3, or AP-1. Using immunohistofluorescence microscopy in the mouse central nervous system (CNS), p56 was clearly detected as scattered cytoplasmic puncta in spinal motor neurons, cerebellar Purkinje cells, and pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Moreover, double labeling with organelle markers revealed that the majority of these puncta were closely associated with the TGN; however, a small fraction was associated with endosomes or lysosomes in spinal motor neurons. Collectively, these results indicate a functional association of p56 with GGA1, suggesting an important role of p56 in larger CNS neurons.