coatfehérjéket

Coatfehérjéket, often translated as coat proteins, are essential components involved in intracellular transport, particularly in the formation and budding of vesicles. These proteins play a crucial role in the process of vesicular trafficking, which allows cells to move molecules and organelles within their compartments and to the cell exterior. They are typically found on the cytosolic side of cellular membranes, where they interact with specific lipids and transmembrane proteins.

The primary function of coat proteins is to organize and concentrate specific membrane proteins and lipids into regions that will eventually bud off to form new vesicles. This selection process ensures that the cargo being transported is correctly packaged into the nascent vesicle. Once the vesicle has budded from the parent membrane, the coat proteins are usually shed, allowing the vesicle to fuse with its target organelle or the plasma membrane.

Several distinct types of coat proteins have been identified, each associated with different cellular pathways. Clathrin is one of the best-studied coat proteins, involved in transport from the Golgi apparatus to lysosomes and in endocytosis at the plasma membrane. Other well-known coat protein systems include COPI and COPII, which mediate retrograde and anterograde transport within the Golgi apparatus and between the ER and Golgi, respectively. The dynamic assembly and disassembly of these protein coats are tightly regulated, ensuring efficient and accurate transport of cellular materials.