Clathrin: a unique protein associated with intracellular transfer of membrane by coated vesicles.

1976/04/01 by Barbara M. F. Pearse · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Cellular transport and secretion #Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior #Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology

paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.73.4.1255

openalex publication_date 1976/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Coated vesicles have been purified from brain, adrenal medulla, and a nonsecreting lymphoma cell line. A single major protein species, clathrin, with an apparent molecular weight of 180,000, forms the coat of all these vesicles. Peptide mapping suggests that the amino acid sequence of clathrin is conserved, irrespective of tissue or species studied. Coated vesicles of different sizes are found. The coats are constructed with variable numbers of clathrin subunits, arranged in closed networks of hexagons and pentagons. The amount of clathrin in lymphoma cells suggests that coated vesicles transfer substantial amounts of membrane within cells, not necessarily in association with a secretory process.

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• Pathway variability, coat stiffening and mechanical adaptation during clathrin-mediated endocytosis
• Molecular mechanism and physiological functions of clathrin-mediated endocytosis
• The Structural Era of Endocytosis
• Molecular Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Clathrin-Mediated Membrane Traffic
• Isolation and characterization of a novel ribonucleoprotein particle: large structures contain a single species of small RNA.
• Endocytosis [wikipedia]