Journey to the Center of the Cell: Role of the Receptosome

Fibroblasts contain a specific internalization pathway that carries hormones as well as some proteins and viruses from the cell surface to the cell interior. Initially, the ligands bind to mobile receptors that are randomly distributed on the cell surface. Next the ligand-receptor complexes are trapped and concentrated in specialized regions of the membrane termed bristle-coated pits. From the pit a smooth-walled vesicle containing the ligand forms and carries the ligand to the cell interior. Because of its role in receptor-mediated endocytosis, this vesicle has been termed a "receptosome."