title: Caveolae: stable membrane domains with a potential for internalization.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Structural Cell Biology Unit, Department of Medical Anatomy, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hommelgaard
authors.forename: Kirstine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roepstorff
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vilhardt
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Torgersen
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandvig
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Deurs
mesh_terms: D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism*; D022461:Caveolins / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D022461:Caveolins