In this large collaborative study, several teams converged to unravel the role AtEH1/2 proteins, which is the essential subunit of the plant-specific endocytic adaptor protein complex TPC. Our team focused on the lipid-driven biomolecular condensation of the EH1/2 proteins. Using tobacco pollen tubes and leaf epidermal cells as model system, our team showed that EH1/2 condensates specifically nucleate on the plasma membrane through interactions with anionic phospholipids, and facilitate the dynamic recruitment and assembly of clathrin, early-, and late-stage endocytic accessory proteins. Importantly, this condensation also promotes ordered clathrin assemblies.

Dragwidge JM, Wang Y, Brocard L, De Meyer A, Hudeček R, Grones P, Buridan M, Chambaud C, Pejchar P, Potocký M, Winkler J, Vandorpe M, Serre N, Fendrych M, Bernard A, De Jaeger G, Pleskot R, Fang X, Van Damme D (2023) Biomolecular condensation orchestrates clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plants, NATURE CELL BIOLOGY, in press doi:10.1038/s41556-024-01354-6