Monday, September 6, 2010

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Internalization of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is important to keep the concentration of LDL in body fluids low. LDL, which is rich in cholesterol, binds with high affinity to its receptors in the cell membranes. This binding activates the formation of pinocytotic vesicles from coated pits. The vesicles soon lose their coating, which is returned to the inner surface of the plasmalemma: the uncoated vesicles fuse with endosomes. In the next step, the LDL is transferred to lysosomes for digestion and separation of their components to be utilized by the cell.

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