Related Concept Videos
Coat Assembly and GTPases
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
Rab Proteins
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
Vesicular Tubular Clusters
With the help of motor proteins such...
Cotranslational Protein Translocation
Sec61 channel partners for cotranslational translocation
During cotranslational translocation, the Sec61 channel partners with the signal recognition particle (SRP), the signal recognition particle receptor (SR), and the ribosomes to transport the nascent polypeptide chain...
Clathrin Coated Vesicles
Rab Cascades
You might also read
Related Articles
Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.
Glycosphingolipids regulate phosphatidylserine transport machinery that operates at ER-PM contact sites.
Cryopreserved Tissue Biospecimens Offer Superior Quality for Whole-Genome Sequencing of Various Cancers Compared to Paired Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissues.
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells
Published on: March 9, 2012
PTRF-Cavin, a conserved cytoplasmic protein required for caveola formation and function.
Michelle M Hill1, Michele Bastiani, Robert Luetterforst
1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Protopoly(proline-rich transmembrane protein) (PTRF), also known as Cavin, is essential for forming cell surface caveolae. Its absence prevents caveolae development and leads to caveolin degradation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Caveolae are vital plasma membrane invaginations involved in cellular processes like lipid regulation and endocytosis.
- The molecular machinery governing caveolae formation and stability remained incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins crucial for caveolae biogenesis and function.
- To elucidate the role of Protopoly(proline-rich transmembrane protein) (PTRF), also known as Cavin, in caveolae formation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative proteomics was employed to identify potential caveolar coat proteins.
- PTRF-Cavin expression and localization were studied in prostate cancer PC3 cells and zebrafish notochord development.
- Functional assays involved PTRF-Cavin knockdown and expression studies to assess caveolae formation and caveolin dynamics.
Main Results:
- PTRF-Cavin was identified as a key protein selectively associating with mature caveolae at the plasma membrane.
- Lack of PTRF-Cavin expression correlated with the absence of caveolae and flat plasma membranes in both cell and organism models.
- PTRF-Cavin expression induced caveolae formation, while its knockdown reduced caveolae density and increased caveolin mobility and degradation.
Conclusions:
- PTRF-Cavin is indispensable for the formation of caveolae.
- PTRF-Cavin plays a critical role in stabilizing caveolin within immobile caveolae structures.
- This study establishes PTRF-Cavin as a required component for caveolae biogenesis and maintenance.

