endophilinmediated

Endophilin-mediated refers to a form of endocytosis that relies on endophilin proteins to drive membrane budding and vesicle formation. Endophilins are a family of BAR-domain-containing proteins that help shape membranes and recruit other endocytic factors, enabling rapid internalization of membrane components in various cell types.

Molecularly, endophilins possess an N-BAR domain that binds and bends membranes, generating the curvature necessary for vesicle formation. Their SH3 domains engage proline-rich regions of partner proteins such as dynamin, amphiphysin, and synaptojanin, coordinating membrane scission and subsequent uncoating. This collaboration allows endophilin-mediated pathways to function alongside or independently of clathrin-mediated routes, depending on the cellular context.

Functionally, endophilin-mediated pathways participate in synaptic vesicle recycling in neurons, contributing to the rapid turnover of membranes after neurotransmitter release. Beyond neurons, endophilins are implicated in diverse clathrin-independent endocytic processes, membrane remodeling, and receptor internalization in other cell types. The balance of interactions with lipids, especially phosphoinositides, and with cytoskeletal elements modulates cargo selection and vesicle dynamics.

Regulation and significance vary by tissue and physiological state. Abnormal endophilin function or expression can disrupt endocytic efficiency and synaptic transmission, with potential links to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Ongoing research continues to define the scope of endophilin-mediated pathways, their cargo preferences, and their overlap with other endocytic routes.