Acidification of endocytic compartments and the intracellular pathways of ligands and receptors

• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.240260404
• Publication Date: 2004-12-30T07:28:42Z
• Authors: Darrell J. Yamashiro; Frederick R. Maxf...
• Keywords: Transferrin receptor

Abstract Several hormones, serum proteins, toxins, and viruses are brought into the cell by receptor‐mediated endocytosis. Initially, many of these molecules particles internalized a common endocytic compartment via clathrin‐coated pit pathway. Subsequently, ligands receptors routed to several destinations, including lysosomes, cytosol, or plasma membrane. We have examined mechanism which sorting occurs. A key step in process is rapid acidification vesicles pH 5.0–5.5 This allows dissociation from their receptors, release iron transferring, penetration diptheria toxin some viral nucleocapsids cytoplasm. Transferrin, ligand that cycles through with its receptor, has been used as marker for recycling receptor found Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transferrin rapidly segregated other complex‐of small and/or tubules near Golgi apparatus. The transferrin‐containing approximately 6.4, indicating it not continuity more acidic contain destined be degraded lysosomes.