Abstract
The internalization of a wide range of biologically significant macromolecules, particularly low density lipoproteins (LDL) and proteins such as α2-macroglobulin and epidermal growth factor, occurs primarily through characteristic, bristle-coated indentations of the cell surface known as coated pits1–4. Current interest has focused on the topographical relationship between surface receptors for these ligands and the coated pits2. We establish here that coated pits are themselves distributed non-randomly on the J774.2 mouse macrophage cell surface. Morphometric and statistical analyses of cell profiles in electron micrographs indicate two levels of asymmetry: in all cells, pits are clustered; after colchicine treatment they accumulate over a microvillous protuberance that develops at one pole of the cell. This topographical heterogeneity suggests a new level at which cellular responses to growth substances and hormones may be regulated.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, R. G. W., Goldstein, J. L. & Brown, M. S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2434–2438 (1976).
Goldstein, J. L., Anderson, R. G. W. & Brown, M. S. Nature 279, 679–684 (1979).
Gordon, G., carpenter, J.-L., Cohen, S. & Orci, L. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci U.S.A. 75, 5025–5029 (1978).
Willingham, M. C., Maxfield, F. R. & Pastan, T. H. J. Cell Biol. 82, 614–625 (1979).
Ralph, P. & Nakoinz, I. Nature 257, 393–394 (1975).
Albertini, D. F., Berlin, R. D. & Oliver, J. M. J. Cell Sci. 26, 57–75 (1977).
Oliver, J. M., Albertini, D. F. & Berlin, R. D. J. Cell Biol. 71, 921–932 (1976).
Walter, R., Berlin, R. D., Pfeiffer, J. R. & Oliver, J. M. J. Cell Biol. 86, 199–211 (1980).
Hines, W. G. S. & O'Hara-Hines, R. J. Biometrika 66, 73–79 (1979).
Greig-Smith, P. Ann. Bot. N.S. 16, 293–316 (1953).
Mead, R. Biometrics 30, 295–307 (1974).
Oliver, J. M. & Berlin, R. D. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 23, 277–298 (1979).
Schreiner, G. F., Braun, J. & Unanue, E. R. J. exp. Med. 144, 1683–1688 (1976).
Berlin, R. D. & Oliver, J. M. J. Cell Biol. 77, 789–804 (1979).
Salisbury, J. L., Condeelis, J. S. & Satir, P. J. Cell Biol. 83, 72a (1979).
Friedkin, M., Legg, A. & Rozengurt, E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 3909–3913 (1979).
Otto, A. M., Zumbe, A., Gibson, L., Kubler, A.-M. & de Asua, L. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 6435–6438 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pfeiffer, J., Oliver, J. & Berlin, R. Topographical distribution of coated pits. Nature 286, 727–729 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286727a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286727a0
This article is cited by
-
Localization of voltage-sensitive sodium channels on the extrasynaptic membrane surface of mouse skeletal muscle by autoradiography of scorpion toxin binding sites
Journal of Neurocytology (1990)
-
The use of Bose-Einstein statistics in analysing the distribution of intracellular organelles: the development of a Bose-Einstein probe
Experientia (1989)
-
Nonrandom distribution of coated pits and vesicles in the connective tissue cells of the trabecular meshwork of rabbit
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
