Sorting Out the Role of α-Synuclein in Retromer-Mediated Endosomal Protein Sorting

Retromer is a phylogenetically conserved, multisubunit coat complex that controls endosomal protein trafficking and sorting. Mutations in the retromer gene VPS35 cause late-onset Parkinson disease, suggesting that trafficking defects cause neurodegeneration. Sorting nexins assist retromer to guide cell surface proteins to their assigned destinations, and our interest here is sorting nexin 3 (Snx3). Snx3 binds to membranes via a phox homolog (PX) domain that binds phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P), and in human cells its cargo proteins are the transferrin and Wnt receptors and the divalent metal ion transporter, whereas in yeast the best characterized cargo is the iron permease Ftr1. We recently discovered that α-synuclein inhibits Snx3-retromer recycling of Ftr1 in an unexpected way: α-synuclein, which avidly binds to negatively charged lipids, blocks the association of Snx3 to early endosomes. Here, we discuss mechanisms by which α-synuclein can disrupt Snx3-retromer–mediated recycling.