An Essential Role of Hrs/Vps27 in Endosomal Cholesterol Trafficking

The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) plays a crucial role in the degradation of ubiquitinated endosomal membrane proteins. Here, we report that Hrs, a key protein of the ESCRT-0 complex, is required for the transport of low-density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol from endoso...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ximing Du, Abdulla S. Kazim, Andrew J. Brown, Hongyuan Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2012-01-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124711000052
Description
Summary:The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) plays a crucial role in the degradation of ubiquitinated endosomal membrane proteins. Here, we report that Hrs, a key protein of the ESCRT-0 complex, is required for the transport of low-density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol from endosomes to the endoplasmic reticulum. This function of Hrs in cholesterol transport is distinct from its previously defined role in lysosomal sorting and downregulation of membrane receptors via the ESCRT pathway. In line with this, knocking down other ESCRT proteins does not cause prominent endosomal cholesterol accumulation. Importantly, the localization and biochemical properties of key cholesterol-sorting proteins, NPC1 and NPC2, appear to be unchanged upon Hrs knockdown. Our data identify Hrs as a regulator of endosomal cholesterol trafficking and provide additional insights into the budding of intralumenal vesicles.
ISSN:2211-1247