Clathrin

From Free net encyclopedia

Clathrin is a protein that is the major constituent of the 'coat' of the clathrin coated pits and coated vesicles formed during endocytosis of materials at the surface of cells.

The clathrin molecules are arranged in a localized polyhedral lattice on the plasma membrane, which subsequently invaginates to form the coated pit and vesicle. When the coated vesicle has delivered its contents within the cell, the clathrin-coated membrane is recycled and returns to the cell surface. A similar process also transfers materials between membranous organelles within the cell.

See also

• Synaptic vesicle