Endosome
Endosome
Endosome (/ɛnˈdoʊsoʊm/; from the Greek endo meaning within and soma meaning body) is a membrane-bound compartment inside eukaryotic cells. It is a key player in the process of protein sorting and recycling.
Etymology
The term "endosome" was coined from the Greek words endo, meaning within, and soma, meaning body. This is in reference to the fact that endosomes are found within the body of a cell.
Function
Endosomes play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including the transport of proteins and lipids, signal transduction, and pathogen entry. They are involved in a complex network of interactions with other organelles in the cell.
Types of Endosomes
There are three main types of endosomes: early endosomes, late endosomes, and recycling endosomes.
- Early endosomes are the first compartment of the endocytic pathway. They are responsible for sorting endocytosed material.
- Late endosomes, also known as multivesicular bodies (MVBs), are the subsequent stage of early endosomes. They contain intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) that originate from the invagination and budding of the limiting membrane into the lumen of the endosome.
- Recycling endosomes serve as a sort of "holding area" for materials that need to be sent back to the plasma membrane.
Related Terms
- Endocytosis is the process by which cells absorb molecules by engulfing them.
- Lysosome is an organelle in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells containing degradative enzymes enclosed in a membrane.
- Phagosome is a vesicle formed around a particle engulfed by a phagocyte via endocytosis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Endosome
- Wikipedia's article - Endosome
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