A new connection between MiniCORVET and HOPS tethering complexes

Abstract

Endocytosis and autophagy use two tethering complexes: HOPS promotes fusion between Rab7 positive late endosomes, autophagosomes and lysosomes, miniCORVET tethers early endosomes, which contain Rab5 associated to their membranes. Based on the structural similarities, there is a strong presumption that CORVET and HOPS could transform into each other and a competition may exist between their Rab-binding subunits.