What Is Receptor Mediated Endocytosis?

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is endocytosis, in which membrane receptors bind to the molecules of the absorbed substance, or to the molecules located on the surface of the phagocytized object – ligands. In the future (after absorption of the substance or object), the receptor-ligand complex is cleaved, and the receptors can again return to the membrane.

One example of receptor-mediated endocytosis is bacterial phagocytosis with leukocyte. Since there are receptors for immunoglobulins (antibodies) on the leukocyte plasmalemma, the rate of phagocytosis increases if the surface of the bacterial cell wall is covered with antibodies.

Receptor-mediated clathrin-dependent endocytosis is the most specific way for macromolecules and macromolecular complexes to enter the cell, commonly referred to as ligands. By binding to their transmembrane receptors, ligands enter the endocytotic vesicles, after the fusion of which the so-called early endosomes are formed. The ligand-receptor complexes internalized in them are sorted according to their nature: metabolic receptors are recycled back to the plasma membrane, while signal receptors and their ligands are sent to the internal vesicles of multivesicular and then degrade after the interaction of the latter with lysosomes. During these processes, endosomes move from the periphery of the cell to the perinuclear region, as well as numerous processes of fusion, invagination, tubulation and separation of membranes.

Endocytosis inhibitor blocked the formation of Rab5-positive endosomes as well as the activation of Rab5.