Endocytosis is simpler than suspected
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 12:30
in Physics & Chemistry
A protein by the name of clathrin plays a key part in endocytosis, the process by which living cells absorb large molecules. The protein can form cages, in which these molecules become trapped. Until recently, the details of this process were not fully understood. Using computer simulations, researchers at the University of Twente, The Netherlands, have now uncovered the secrets of this mechanism. It seems that the traditional view of endocytosis was overly complex.