Earlier studies have demonstrated interaction of the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule K d with amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2), a ubiquitously expressed member of the amyloid precursor protein family. Our current findings indicate that APLP2 is internalized in a clathrindependent manner, as shown by utilization of inhibitors of the clathrin pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrated that APLP2 and K d bind at the cell surface and are internalized together. The APLP2 cytoplasmic tail contains two overlapping consensus motifs for binding to the adaptor protein-2 complex, and mutation of a tyrosine shared by both motifs severely impaired APLP2 internalization and ability to promote K d endocytosis. Upon increased expression of wild type APLP2, K d molecules were predominantly directed to the lysosomes rather than recycled to the plasma membrane. These findings suggest a model in which APLP2 binds K d at the plasma membrane, facilitates uptake of K d in a clathrin-dependent manner, and routes the endocytosed K d to the lysosomal degradation pathway. Thus, APLP2 has a multistep trafficking function that influences the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules at the plasma membrane.The efficacy of the cellular immune response to intracellular pathogens and tumors is reliant on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) 5 class I molecules. MHC class I molecules present peptides, including peptides derived from pathogens and tumors, at the cell surface to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been selected during development for their ability to react to cells in the periphery expressing self MHC class I molecules bearing non-self peptides. The level of cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules on infected and malignant cells therefore dictates the extent to which the antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes can recognize, and subsequently lyse, abnormal cells. The cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules is controlled by the quantity and quality of MHC class I molecules that are assembled, and also by the rate at which MHC class I molecules depart from the plasma membrane.Amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) binds to the MHC class I molecule K d in cells that express â€2-microglobulin (1, 2). APLP2 regulates the level of folded K d molecules at the cell surface: a reduction in APLP2 expression causes an elevation in the amount of folded K d at the plasma membrane, and an increase in APLP2 expression results in a decline in folded K d surface expression (3, 4). Higher APLP2 expression lowers the level of K d at the plasma membrane by increasing the endocytosis, destabilization, and turnover of K d molecules (4). The family of proteins to which APLP2 belongs includes APL-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans, APPL in Drosophila, and three proteins in mammals: amyloid precursor protein (APP), amyloid precursor-like protein 1, and APLP2 (5, 6). APLP2 shares a high degree of sequence homology with APP, particularly at the C-terminal end. However, ...