Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualizing Clathrin-mediated Endocytosis of G Protein-coupled Receptors at Single-event Resolution via TIRF Microscopy
12:40

Visualizing Clathrin-mediated Endocytosis of G Protein-coupled Receptors at Single-event Resolution via TIRF Microscopy

Published on: October 20, 2014

Molecular mechanisms of clathrin-independent endocytosis

Carsten G Hansen1, Benjamin J Nichols

  • 1MRC-LMB, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.

Journal of Cell Science
|May 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mammalian cells use multiple clathrin-independent pathways for endocytosis. Recent research identifies key proteins like CtBP, flotillins, and GRAF1, aiding in classifying these distinct cellular processes.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Molecular mechanisms of endocytosis

Background:

  • Canonical endocytosis relies on clathrin machinery.
  • Mammalian cells utilize alternative, clathrin-independent endocytic pathways.
  • The proteins and functions of these pathways are under active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the development of clathrin-independent endocytosis research.
  • To highlight recent discoveries of proteins involved in alternative endocytic routes.
  • To propose a classification framework for endocytic pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and commentary on existing research.
  • Identification and discussion of key proteins implicated in clathrin-independent endocytosis.
  • Analysis of ultrastructural data of endocytic invaginations.

Main Results:

  • CtBP (also known as BARS), flotillins (reggies), and GRAF1 are identified as key proteins in clathrin-independent endocytosis.
  • These proteins may define distinct types of endocytic pathways.
  • Ultrastructural features of endocytic vesicles can aid in pathway classification.

Conclusions:

  • Clathrin-independent endocytosis involves multiple protein sets.
  • Identifying pathway-specific proteins is crucial for understanding their mechanisms and functions.
  • Combining protein data with ultrastructural analysis offers a method for classifying diverse endocytic pathways.

More Related Videos

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction17:14

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction

Published on: January 26, 2011

Applications of pHluorin for Quantitative, Kinetic and High-throughput Analysis of Endocytosis in Budding Yeast10:02

Applications of pHluorin for Quantitative, Kinetic and High-throughput Analysis of Endocytosis in Budding Yeast

Published on: October 23, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Clathrin Coated Vesicles01:12

Clathrin Coated Vesicles

Clathrin-coated vesicles use endocytosis to transport receptors and lysosomal hydrolases from the Golgi to the lysosome in the late secretory pathway. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis was the first described endocytic process, and Clathrin-coated vesicles remain one of the most well-studied transport vesicles. The molecular machinery that generates clathrin-coated vesicles comprises over 50 proteins that precisely coordinate vesicle formation. Cell surface receptors concentrated in indented sites...
Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles01:32

Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles

Vesicle budding is orchestrated by distinct cytosolic proteins such as adaptor proteins, coat proteins, and GTPases. To initiate vesicle budding, membrane-bending proteins containing crescent-shaped BAR domains bind to the lipid heads in the bilayer and distort the membrane to form a protein-coated vesicle bud. Adaptors proteins such as AP2 for clathrin-coated vesicles can nucleate on the deformed membrane. Finally, coat proteins such as clathrin or COPI and COPII assemble into a coat forming...
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:20

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is when bulk amounts of specific molecules are imported into a cell after binding to cell surface receptors. The molecules bound to these receptors are taken into the cell through inward folding of the cell surface membrane, which is eventually pinched off into a vesicle within the cell. Structural proteins, such as clathrin, coat the budding vesicle.
Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis of LDL
One well-characterized example of receptor-mediated endocytosis is the...
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:38

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Overview
Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis01:20

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is when bulk amounts of specific molecules are imported into a cell after binding to cell surface receptors. The molecules bound to these receptors are taken into the cell through inward folding of the cell surface membrane, which is eventually pinched off into a vesicle within the cell. Structural proteins, such as clathrin, coat the budding vesicle.
Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis of LDL
One well-characterized example of receptor-mediated endocytosis is the...
COP Coated Vesicles00:59

COP Coated Vesicles

Membrane-enclosed structures called vesicles transport proteins and lipids across the cell. The vesicles derive their cargo from the plasma membrane, Golgi, ER, or endosome. Coated vesicles are spherical, protein-coated carriers with a 50–100 nm diameter that mediate bidirectional transport between the ER and the Golgi. The distribution of proteins between the ER and Golgi complex is dynamic and is maintained by different coated vesicles. Their formation is driven by the assembly of different...