Structural Analysis of a Novel Plasma Membrane Coat Complex (2012-2014)
Abstract
Caveolae, small invaginations of the plasma membrane, are a characteristic feature of eukaryotic cells. Caveolae were described morphologically in the early 1950s, but only recently have some of their important functions been revealed. It is now evident that caveolae are multifunctional organelles which play a crucial role in many vital cellular processes. A family of coat proteins that regulate the formation and function of caveolae have recently been discovered. This proposal seeks to understand how this multiprotein assembly of coat proteins is assembled and functions at the molecular level.
