Caveolae
Caveolae
Caveolae (pronounced: kav-ee-oh-lee) are small, flask-shaped invaginations found in the plasma membrane of many mammalian cells. They are a type of lipid raft and are rich in proteins as well as lipids such as cholesterol and sphingolipids.
Etymology
The term "caveolae", derived from the Latin word "caveola", meaning "little cave", was first used in the late 1950s to describe the small pits observed in electron micrographs of the plasma membrane.
Function
Caveolae play a crucial role in a variety of cellular processes, including endocytosis, lipid regulation, signal transduction, and mechanoprotection. They are also implicated in several human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and muscular dystrophy.
Structure
The structure of caveolae is defined by the presence of the protein Caveolin, which is essential for their formation. There are three types of caveolins: Caveolin-1, Caveolin-2, and Caveolin-3, each with distinct tissue distributions and functions.
Related Terms
- Caveolin: A family of integral membrane proteins that are the principal components of caveolae membranes and involved in receptor-independent endocytosis.
- Endocytosis: A cellular process in which substances are brought into the cell.
- Lipid Raft: Microdomains of the plasma membrane that contain high concentrations of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids.
- Mechanoprotection: The process by which cells respond to mechanical stress to prevent damage.
- Signal Transduction: The process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Caveolae
- Wikipedia's article - Caveolae
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski