Systematic mutational analysis of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor cytoplasmic domain. An acidic cluster containing a key aspartate is important for function in lysosomal enzyme sorting.

We have used systematic mutational analysis to identify signals in the 166-residue murine cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor cytoplasmic domain required for efficient sorting of lysosomal enzymes. Alanine cluster mutagenesis on all conserved residues apart from the endocytosis signal demonstrates that the major sorting determinant is a conserved casein kinase II site followed by a dileucine motif (157DDSDEDLL164). Small deletions or additions outside this region have severe to mild effects, indicating that context is important. Single residue mutagenesis indicates that cycles of serine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation are not obligatory for sorting. In addition, the two leucine residues and four of the five negatively charged residues can readily tolerate conservative substitutions. In contrast, aspartate 160 could not tolerate isoelectric or isosteric substitutions, implicating it as a critical component of the sorting signal.