Receptor-mediated endocytosis
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Receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) is a process by which cells internalize molecules (endocytosis) into a cell by the inward budding of plasma membrane vesicles containing proteins with receptor sites specific to the molecules being internalized.
After binding of a ligand to plasma membrane spanning receptors, a signal is sent through the membrane, leading to clathrin coating the membrane, and formation of a membrane invagination. The receptor and its ligand are then internalised in sub-micrometre sized clathrin-coated vesicles. Once internalised, the clathrin-coated vesicle uncoats (a pre-requisite for the vesicle to fuse with other membranes) and individual vesicles fuse to form the early endosome. Using fluorescent dyes to stain the plasma membrane, it is possible to follow the internalization of plasma membrane fragments by microscopy.
Specific properties of RME:
- induction within minutes of exposure to excess ligand.
- the formation of these vesicles is sensitive to inhibition by wortmannin
- the initiation of vesicle formation can be delayed/inhibited by cold treatment
See also
A lecture on RME with some nice pictures
- http://www.cytochemistry.net/Cell-biology/recend.htm
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