Recent progress in the topology, structure, and oligomerization of caveolin: a building block of caveolae

Caveolae are cholesterol-rich plasma membrane invaginations that are found in a plethora of cell types. They play many roles including signal transduction, endocytosis, and mechanoprotection. The most critical protein in caveolae is the integral membrane protein, caveolin, which has been shown to be necessary for caveolae formation, and governs the major functions attributed to caveolae. Caveolin is postulated to act as a scaffold in the high molecular weight striated coat that surrounds the caveolar bulb, stabilizing it. Caveolin interacts, both directly and indirectly, with a large number of signaling molecules, and presides over the endocytosis of molecular cargo by caveolae. However, many of the key biophysical aspects of the caveolin protein, its structure, topology, and oligomeric behavior, are just beginning to come to light. Herein is an up-to-date summary and critique of the progress that has been made in understanding caveolin on a molecular and atomic level.