Rab11-FIP3 binds dynein light intermediate chain 2 and its overexpression fragments the Golgi complex.

The mechanochemical forces that move and position intracellular organelles and their intermediates in eukaryotic cells are provided by molecular motor proteins which include the cytoplasmic dynein-1 motor complex. Recently, we identified the Rab11 GTPase effector protein Rab11-FIP3 (henceforth, FIP3) as a novel binding-partner for dynein light intermediate chain 1 (DLIC-1, gene symbol DYNC1LI1), a subunit of cytoplasmic dynein-1. Here, we show that FIP3 also binds the dynein light intermediate chain 2 subunit (DLIC-2, gene symbol DYNC1LI2). We show that like DLIC-1, DLIC-2 binds the amino-terminal 435 amino acids of FIP3 and that FIP3 links Rab11a to DLIC-2. We also show that FIP3 recruits DLIC-2 onto membranes and that DLIC-2 is necessary for the accumulation of endocytosed-transferrin (Tfn) at the pericentrosomal endosomal-recycling compartment (ERC). Finally, we demonstrate that overexpression of FIP3 fragments the Golgi complex by sequestering cytoplasmic dynein-1. In conclusion, we have identified FIP3 as the first membrane-associated interacting-partner for DLIC-2 and propose that this interaction serves to control endosomal trafficking from sorting endosomes to the ERC.