Lifetime of major histocompatibility complex class-I membrane clusters is controlled by the actin cytoskeleton.

ABSTRACT: Lateral heterogeneity of cell membranes has been demonstrated in numerous studies showing anomalous diffusion of membrane proteins; it has been explained by models and experiments suggesting dynamic barriers to free diffusion, that temporarily confine membrane proteins into microscopic patches. This picture, however, comes short of explaining a steady-state patchy distribution of proteins, in face of the transient opening of the barriers. In our previous work we directly imaged persistent clusters of MHC-I, a type I transmembrane protein, and proposed a model of a dynamic equilibrium between proteins newly delivered to the cell surface by vesicle traffic, temporary confinement by dynamic barriers to lateral diffusion, and dispersion of the clusters by diffusion over the dynamic barriers. O

SUBMITTER: Lavi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3318120 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature