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Intracellular trafficking

Liquid-like protein assemblies initiate endocytosis

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Endocytosis is critical for regulating plasma membrane composition and function. The mechanisms that control the assembly and dynamic rearrangement of the endocytic protein network to enable endocytic vesicle formation have remained elusive. Two endocytic initiator proteins are now shown to form liquid-like condensates to initiate endocytosis.

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Fig. 1: Liquid phase separation during the initial stages of endocytic vesicle formation.

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Correspondence to Volker Haucke.

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Witkowska, A., Haucke, V. Liquid-like protein assemblies initiate endocytosis. Nat Cell Biol 23, 301–302 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-021-00665-2

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