Clathrin: a unique protein associated with intracellular transfer of membrane by coated vesicles.

TLDR

Coated vesicle coats are built from variable numbers of clathrin subunits arranged in closed hexagon–pentagon networks. Coated vesicles isolated from brain, adrenal medulla, and a lymphoma cell line contain a single conserved 180‑kDa protein, clathrin, and vary in size, indicating that clathrin‑coated vesicles mediate substantial intracellular membrane transfer independent of secretion.

Abstract

Coated vesicles have been purified from brain, adrenal medulla, and a nonsecreting lymphoma cell line. A single major protein species, clathrin, with an apparent molecular weight of 180,000, forms the coat of all these vesicles. Peptide mapping suggests that the amino acid sequence of clathrin is conserved, irrespective of tissue or species studied. Coated vesicles of different sizes are found. The coats are constructed with variable numbers of clathrin subunits, arranged in closed networks of hexagons and pentagons. The amount of clathrin in lymphoma cells suggests that coated vesicles transfer substantial amounts of membrane within cells, not necessarily in association with a secretory process.