EIPR1 controls dense-core vesicle cargo retention and EARP complex localization in insulin-secreting cells

Dense-core vesicles (DCVs) are secretory vesicles found in neurons and endocrine cells. DCVs package and release cargoes including neuropeptides, biogenic amines, and peptide hormones. We recently identified the endosome-associated recycling protein (EARP) complex and the EARP-interacting-protein EIPR-1 as proteins important for controlling levels of DCV cargoes in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. Here we determine the role of mammalian EIPR1 in insulinoma cells. We find that in Eipr1 KO cells, there is reduced insulin secretion, and mature DCV cargoes such as insulin and carboxypeptidase E (CPE) accumulate near the trans-Golgi network and are not retained in mature DCVs in the cell periphery. In addition, we find that EIPR1 is required for the stability of the EARP complex subunits and for the localization of EARP and its association with membranes, but EIPR1 does not affect localization or function of the related Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex. EARP is localized to two distinct compartments related to its function: an endosomal compartment and a DCV biogenesis-related compartment. We propose that EIPR1 functions with EARP to control both endocytic recycling and DCV maturation.