The transport of proteins from the secretory to the endocytic pathway is mediated by carrier vesicles coated with the AP-1 Golgi assembly proteins and clathrin. The mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPHs) are two major transmembrane proteins segregated into these transport vesicles. Together with the GTPase ARF-1, these cargo proteins are essential components for the efficient translocation of the cytosolic AP-1 onto membranes of the trans-Golgi network, the first step of clathrin coat assembly, MPR-negative fibroblasts have a low capacity of recruiting AP-1 which can be restored by re-expressing the MPRs in these cells. This property was used to identify the protein motif of the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CD-MPR) cytoplasmic domain that is essential for these interactions. Thus, the affinity of AP-1 for membranes and in vivo transport of cathepsin D were measured for MPR-negative cells re-expressing various CD-MPR mutants. The results indicate that the targeting of lysosomal enzymes requires the CD-PDR cytoplasmic domain that are different from tyrosine-based endocytosis motifs. The first is a casein kinase II phosphorylation site (ESEER) that is essential for high affinity binding of AP-1 and therefore probably acts as a dominant determinant controlling CD-MPR sorting in the trans-Golgi network. The second is the adjacent di-leucine motif (HLLPM), which, by itself, is not critical for AP-1 binding, but is absolutely required for a downstream sorting event.