title: Membrane microdomains, caveolae, and caveolar endocytosis of sphingolipids.
abstract: Caveolae are flask-shape membrane invaginations of the plasma membrane that have been implicated in endocytosis, transcytosis, and cell signaling. Recent years have witnessed the resurgence of studies on caveolae because they have been found to be involved in the uptake of some membrane components such as glycosphingolipids and integrins, as well as viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins. Accumulating evidence shows that endocytosis mediated by caveolae requires unique structural and signaling machinery (caveolin-1, src kinase), which indicates that caveolar endocytosis occurs through a mechanism which is distinct from other forms of lipid microdomain-associated, clathrin-independent endocytosis. Furthermore, a balance of glycosphingolipids, cholesterol, and caveolin-1 has been shown to be important in regulating caveolae endocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Raman Deep
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism*; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051242:Caveolin 1; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D013107:Sphingolipids; D002784:Cholesterol