caveolaerelated

Caveolae-related describes aspects of caveolae biology, the small, cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich invaginations of the plasma membrane. These structures, 50 to 100 nanometers in diameter, are enriched in caveolin proteins and cavin complex components that cooperate to form and stabilize the caveolar coat.

Key proteins include caveolin-1 and caveolin-2, which are broadly expressed, and caveolin-3, largely in muscle tissue. The caveolae coat also requires cavins (e.g., Cavin-1) for formation and maintenance. Cholesterol and sphingolipids help drive membrane curvature and domain organization.

Functions attributed to caveolae include clathrin-independent endocytosis, compartmentalization and regulation of signaling pathways, and mechanotransduction. Within caveolae, signaling molecules such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), G-proteins, and various kinases are organized into microdomains that modulate signal intensity and duration. Caveolae also participate in lipid and cholesterol trafficking and influence membrane tension sensing and vesicle trafficking under mechanical stress.

Alterations in caveolae components or function have been linked to disease. Caveolin mutations or reduced Cavin expression are associated with endothelial dysfunction, metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance, and muscle pathologies including caveolin-3–related muscular dystrophy. Because caveolae participate in endocytosis and pathogen entry routes, they are of interest in infectious disease and nanomedicine as potential targets for therapy or delivery.

Research on caveolae-related biology continues to clarify how these microdomains coordinate signaling, trafficking, and mechanical responses in diverse cell types.