Adapter protein that plays a role in endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits. Contributes to the internalization of cell surface receptors, such as integrin ITGB1 and transferrin receptor . Promotes endocytosis of EGFR in cancer cells, and thereby contributes to the down-regulation of EGFR signaling . Recruited to clathrin-coated pits during a mid-to-late stage of assembly, where it is required for normal progress from U-shaped intermediate stage pits to terminal, omega-shaped pits . Binds to membranes enriched in phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate or phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate . When bound to membranes, promotes actin polymerization via its interaction with WAS and/or WASL which leads to the activation of the Arp2/3 complex. Does not promote actin polymerisation in the absence of membranes .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cell junction, Membrane, Clathrin-coated pit, Cell membrane, Cell projection, Stereocilium
Partially localized at clathrin-coated pits at the cell membrane . Detected at the cell membrane at sites around clathrin-coated pits, very close to the clathrin-coated pits but not an intrinsic part of the clathrin-coated pits . Colocalizes at cell-cell contacts with CDH1, but is not detected at tight junctions .
Liver, brain, heart, placenta, skeletal muscle, pancreas, lung and kidney.