title: ATP induces large channel endocytosis with concomitant increase in cell density.
abstract: Large channel endocytosis is considered to be the characteristic of specialized endocytic cells like macrophages and phagocytes while small pit endocytosis involving clathrin protein coatings are the membrane recycling macromolecular pathways for most eukaryotic cells. We show here that extracellular ATP induced cells to internalize their plasma membrane by large channel endocytosis. In the process of plasma membrane internalization, flat protracted cells round up and become easily detachable from the substrate. Scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) revealed an increase in cell density as the ATP treated cells assumed a rounded morphology. The increase in cell density could be attributed to endocytic internalization of cell membrane and debris.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sit
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paramanantham
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate