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Caveolae: Stable Membrane Domains with a Potential for Internalization
Author(s) -
Hommelgaard Anette M.,
Roepstorff Kirstine,
Vilhardt Frederik,
Torgersen Maria L.,
Sandvig Kirsten,
van Deurs Bo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
traffic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.677
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1600-0854
pISSN - 1398-9219
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2005.00314.x
Subject(s) - caveolae , internalization , endocytosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , receptor , receptor mediated endocytosis , downregulation and upregulation , signal transduction , biochemistry , gene
The role of caveolae in endocytosis is hotly debated. Here, we argue that most caveolae are stable microdomains at the cell surface. Only a small fraction of caveolae is constitutively internalized, leading to a quantitatively minor uptake of ligands and receptors. In addition, we suggest that a more pronounced downregulation of caveolae from the plasma membrane can occur, presumably stimulated by receptor cross‐linking and clustering in caveolae. Finally, we propose that future studies dealing with internalization of caveolae should actually document such internalization and include kinetic data.