Role of the hepatic endocytic compartment in signal transduction

Abstract

Hormones and growth factors regulate cell metabolism, growth, differentiation and mitogenesis by interacting with plasma membrane located receptors. Upon ligand binding receptors are rapidly internalised into a series of complex membranes system collectively called endocytic compartment. Detailed studies on a number of receptor tyrosine kinases suggest that internalisation, rather than simply serving as a mechanism for uptake, may also allow for selected and regulated signal transduction from intracellular compartments. Although signal transduction is often credited with being a cascade of interactions initiated at the plasma membrane but exerting its final effects in the nucleus, now it has become clear that certain signal-transduction pathways affect membrane trafficking.