Cell biology of caveolae and caveolin

Originally described in the 1950s caveolae are morphologically identifiable as small omega-shaped plasma membrane invaginations present in most cell types. Caveolae are particularly abundant in adipocytes, fibroblasts, type I pneumocytes, endothelial and epithelial cells as well as in smooth and striated muscle cells. The first proposed function for caveolae was that of mediating the internalisation and transendothelial trafficking of solutes. Caveolae have been the object of intense research since the discovery of a biochemical marker protein, caveolin, in the early 1990s. Three genes encoding for caveolins have been characterised in mammals. Caveolins (18-24 kDa) are integral membrane proteins that constitute the major protein component of caveolar membrane in vivo. In addition to a structural role of caveolins in the formation of caveolae, caveolin protein interacts directly, and in a regulated manner, with a number of signalling molecules. We present here a general overview of the current knowledge on the structural role of caveolin in caveolae formation, and implication of caveolin in the control of cell signalling. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.