Actin-, myosin- and ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis

Abstract

Endocytosis is a general term that is used to describe the internalization of external and plasma membrane molecules into the cell interior. In fact, several different mechanisms exist for the internalization step of this process. In this review we emphasize the work on the actin-dependent pathways, in particular in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, because several components of the molecular machinery are identified. In this yeast, the analysis of endocytosis in various mutants reveals a requirement for actin, calmodulin, a type I myosin, as well as a number of other proteins that affect actin dynamics. Some of these proteins have homology to proteins in animal cells that are believed to be involved in endocytosis. In addition, the demonstration that ubiquitination of some cell surface molecules is required for their efficient internalization is described. We compare the actin, myosin and ubiquitin requirements for endocytosis with recent results found studying these processes using Dictyostelium discoideum and animal cells.