Oligomeric structure of caveolin: Implications for caveolae membrane organization

Massimo Sargiacomo, Philipp E. Scherer, ZhaoLan Tang, Eric Kübler, Kenneth S. Song, Mitchell C. Sanders, Michael P. Lisanti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

490 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 22-kDa protein, caveolin, is localized to the cytoplasmic surface of plasma membrane specializations called caveolae. We have proposed that caveolin may function as a scaffolding protein to organize and concentrate signaling molecules within caveolae. Here, we show that caveolin interacts with itself to form homooligomers. Electron microscopic visualization of these purified caveolin homooligomers demonstrates that they appear as individual spherical particles. By using recombinant expression of caveolin as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, we have defined a region of caveolin's cytoplasmic N-terminal domain that mediates these caveolin- caveolin interactions. We suggest that caveolin homooligomers may function to concentrate caveolin-interacting molecules within caveolae. In this regard, it may be useful to think of caveolin homooligomers as 'fishing lures' with multiple 'hooks' or attachment sites for caveolin-interacting molecules.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9407-9411
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume92
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 26 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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