Phosphorylation of the AP2 μ2 subunit by p70S6 kinase facilitates clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) internalizes cell-surface receptors via clathrin-coated invaginations of the plasma membrane. Both clathrin and endocytic cargo are recruited to these sites by the adaptor protein complex AP2. AP2 cycles between a closed cytoplasmic conformation and an open membrane-bound state, and efficient CME requires both conformations and their dynamic interconversion. The mechanisms regulating these conformational changes, which include post-translational modifications of the AP2, remain incompletely understood. Here, we report that, in human cell lines, p70S6 kinase phosphorylates the μ2 subunit of the AP2 and that the phosphorylation of serine 45 (S45) depends on p70S6K activity. Loss of S45-μ2 phosphorylation results in decreased internalization of canonical CME cargo, such as transferrin and PDGF receptors. In Caenorhabditis elegans, lack of S45-μ2 phosphorylation produces directionally similar but markedly weaker phenotypes than AP2 loss of function. Live imaging and computational dynamic modelling suggest that S45-μ2 phosphorylation has an impact on the conformational changes of the AP2 complex. These findings identify a p70S6K-dependent mechanism that modulates AP2 function and further strengthen the importance of post-translational regulation in controlling CME.