Restin (RSN)

Binding of endocytic carrier vesicles to microtubules depends on the microtubule-binding protein CLIP170 in vitro. In vivo, CLIP170 colocalizes with a subset of transferrin receptor-positive endocytic structures and, more extensively, with endosomal tubules induced by brefeldin A.

Pierre et al. (1992) identified a novel motif present in a tandem repeat in the N-terminal domain of CLIP170 that is involved in binding to microtubules. This motif is also found in the Drosophila Glued and yeast BIK1 proteins. These features, together with its very elongated structure, suggested that CLIP170 belongs to a novel class of proteins, designated cytoplasmic linker proteins (CLIPs), that mediate interactions of organelles with microtubules.