The uptake of receptors by clathrin-mediated
endocytosis underlies
signaling, nutrient import, and recycling of transmembrane proteins
and lipids. In the complex, crowded environment of the plasma membrane,
receptors are internalized when they bind to components of the clathrin
coat, such as the major adaptor protein, AP2. Receptors with higher
affinity for AP2 are known to be more strongly internalized compared
to receptors with lower affinity. However, it remains unclear how
receptors with different affinities compete for space within crowded
endocytic structures. To address this question, we constructed receptors
with varying affinities for AP2 and allowed them to compete against
one another during internalization. As expected, the internalization
of a receptor with high affinity for AP2 was reduced when it was coexpressed
with a competing receptor of similar affinity. However, receptors
of low affinity for AP2 were surprisingly difficult to displace from
endocytic structures, even when expressed alongside receptors with
much higher affinity. To understand how these low-affinity receptors
are protected from competition, we looked at AP2 heterogeneity across
clathrin-coated structures. When we examined structures with lower-than-average
AP2 content, we found that they were relatively enriched in cargo
of low affinity for AP2 and depleted of cargo with high affinity.
These findings suggest that the heterogeneity of adaptor protein content
across the population of endocytic structures enables the internalization
of diverse receptors. Given the critical role that internalization
plays in signaling, this effect may help to prevent strongly internalized
receptors from interfering with the cell’s ability to process
signals from weakly internalized receptors.