RUFY3 and RUFY4 are ARL8 effectors that promote coupling of endolysosomes to dynein-dynactin

The small GTPase ARL8 associates with endolysosomes, leading to the recruitment of several effectors that couple endolysosomes to kinesins for anterograde transport along microtubules, and to tethering factors for eventual fusion with other organelles. Herein we report the identification of the RU N- and FY VE-domain-containing proteins RUFY3 and RUFY4 as ARL8 effectors that promote coupling of endolysosomes to dynein-dynactin for retrograde transport along microtubules. Using various methodologies, we find that RUFY3 and RUFY4 interact with both GTP-bound ARL8 and dynein-dynactin. In addition, we show that RUFY3 and RUFY4 promote concentration of endolysosomes in the juxtanuclear area of non-neuronal cells, and drive redistribution of endolysosomes from the axon to the soma in hippocampal neurons. The function of RUFY3 in retrograde transport contributes to the juxtanuclear redistribution of endolysosomes upon cytosol alkalinization. These studies thus identify RUFY3 and RUFY4 as ARL8-dependent, dynein-dynactin adaptors or regulators, and highlight the role of ARL8 in the control of both anterograde and retrograde endolysosome transport. Organellar transport is carefully regulated, and endolysosome localized ARL8 is important for kinesin recruitment and anterograde movement. Here, the authors show that RUFY3 and RUFY4 promote retrograde transport of endolysosomes by mediating interaction of ARL8 with dynein-dynactin.