ORP2 couples LDL‐cholesterol transport to FAK activation by endosomal cholesterol/PI(4,5)P(2) exchange

Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol delivery from late endosomes to the plasma membrane regulates focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration, but the mechanisms controlling it are poorly characterized. Here, we employed auxin‐inducible rapid degradation of oxysterol‐binding protein‐related protein 2 (ORP2/OSBPL2) to show that endogenous ORP2 mediates the transfer of LDL‐derived cholesterol from late endosomes to focal adhesion kinase (FAK)‐/integrin‐positive recycling endosomes in human cells. In vitro, cholesterol enhances membrane association of FAK to PI(4,5)P(2)‐containing lipid bilayers. In cells, ORP2 stimulates FAK activation and PI(4,5)P(2) generation in endomembranes, enhancing cell adhesion. Moreover, ORP2 increases PI(4,5)P(2) in NPC1‐containing late endosomes in a FAK‐dependent manner, controlling their tubulovesicular trafficking. Together, these results provide evidence that ORP2 controls FAK activation and LDL‐cholesterol plasma membrane delivery by promoting bidirectional cholesterol/PI(4,5)P(2) exchange between late and recycling endosomes.