title: Diversity of raft-like domains in late endosomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late endosomes, the last sorting station in the endocytic pathway before lysosomes, are pleiomorphic organelles composed of tubular elements as well as vesicular regions with a characteristic multivesicular appearance, which play a crucial role in intracellular trafficking. Here, we have investigated whether, in addition to these morphologically distinguishable regions, late endosomal membranes are additionally sub-compartmentalized into membrane microdomains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using sub-organellar fractionation techniques, both with and without detergents, combined with electron microscopy, we found that both the limiting membrane of the organel and the intraluminal vesicles contain raft-type membrane domains. Interestingly, these differentially localized domains vary in protein composition and physico-chemical properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to the multivesicular organization, we find that late endosomes contain cholesterol rich microdomains both on their limiting membrane and their intraluminal vesicles that differ in composition and properties. Implications of these findings for late endosomal functions are discussed.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Komla
authors: K
authors: Sobo
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Chevallier
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Parton
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Gruenberg
authors: F Gisou
authors: FG
authors: van der Goot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006224:Cricetinae; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012995:Solubility; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism