Regulation of raft-dependent endocytosis

J Cell Mol Med. 2007 Jul-Aug;11(4):644-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00083.x.

Abstract

Raft-dependent endocytosis is in large part defined as the cholesterol-sensitive, clathrin-independent internalization of ligands and receptors from the plasma membrane. It encompasses the endocytosis of caveolae, smooth plasmalemmal vesicles that form a subdomain of cholesterol and sphingolipid-rich lipid rafts and that are enriched for caveolin-1. While sharing common mechanisms, like cholesterol sensitivity, raft endocytic routes show differential regulation by various cellular components including caveolin-1, dynamin-2 and regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. Dynamin-dependent raft pathways, mediated by caveolae and morphologically equivalent non-caveolin vesicular intermediates, are referred to as caveolae/raft-dependent endocytosis. In contrast, dynamin-independent raft pathways are mediated by non-caveolar intermediates. Raft-dependent endocytosis is regulated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors and, through the regulation of the internalization of various ligands, receptors and effectors, is also a determinant of cellular signaling. In this review, we characterize and discuss the regulation of raft-dependent endocytic pathways and the role of key regulators such as caveolin-1.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism
  • Endocytosis*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Caveolin 1