Functional and Structural Studies on Clathrin Triskelions and Baskets

Coated vesicles and coated pits have been shown to be involved in the vectorial transport of membranes between organelles in eukaryotic cells (Goldstein et al. 1979; Pearse 1980). In the course of these events, clathrin, the main protein component of the coat, or clathrin-associated proteins must recognize specific macromolecules in the membrane. Furthermore, clathrin-clathrin interactions within the polygonal protein lattice of the coat are likely to be modulated when coated pits turn from slight dimples in the membrane into deep invaginations prior to the budding of vesicles (Heuser 1980).