ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) regulates recruitment of the AP-3 adaptor complex to membranes

The regulation of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) of the membrane association of the AP-3 adaptor coat protein is investigated. ARF1 is known to regulate the membrane association of the clathrin coat adaptor protein (AP-1) and the nonclathrin coat protein (COPI). The subcellular localization of AP-3 has been studied by altering the intracellular level of ARF1-GTP through overexpression of dominant ARF1 mutants or ARF1-GTPase activating protein. Results show that ARF-1 is also responsible for the regulation of AP-3 as in the other two coat proteins.