Endocytosis

Cyclic cell-penetrating peptides are able to enter cells and deliver cargo molecules without being positively charged, previously assumed to be a prerequisite for inducing endocytosis.

A new study has identified a scavenger receptor-independent mechanism of atherosclerosis development by showing that LDL uptake through macropinocytosis contributes to macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis development and that an FDA-approved drug that inhibits macropinocytosis inhibits atherosclerosis development in mice.

Cail et al. introduce a platform to study the role of plasma membrane curvature during clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Clathrin- and dynamin-independent endocytosis is considered a major ‘default’ uptake route for cells, but a recent study describes the selective recruitment of integrin-adhesion receptor cargoes via the endocytic adaptor Swip1, which promotes breast cancer invasion and metastasis.

Many endocytic uptake events depend on the ‘pinchase’ activity of dynamin. By measuring the orientation of single gold nanorods, a new study reveals that invaginated clathrin-coated endocytic pits undergo a strong rotational twist prior to or concomitant with their detachment.

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.