Coatomer coated vesicles refer to small membrane-bound compartments found within cells that are involved in intracellular transport. These vesicles are coated with a protein complex called coatomer, which plays a crucial role in mediating various steps of membrane traffic within the cell.
Coatomer is a multi-subunit protein complex that assembles into a lattice-like coat on the cytoplasmic surface of the vesicles, providing structural support and stability. It is primarily composed of seven subunits, with each subunit offering specific functions in the process of vesicle trafficking.
The formation of coatomer coated vesicles begins with the binding of the coatomer complex to a specific region of the donor membrane. This binding occurs through interactions between coatomer subunits and specific membrane proteins, such as cargo receptors or sorting signals. Once attached, the coatomer complex polymerizes, leading to the deformation and budding of the vesicle from the donor membrane.
These vesicles then transport cargo molecules, such as proteins and lipids, from the donor membrane to their target destinations within the cell. Coatomer coated vesicles participate in various intracellular pathways, including retrograde transport from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum, retrieval of resident proteins from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum, and transport between different compartments of the Golgi apparatus.
In summary, coatomer coated vesicles are small membrane-bound compartments that are involved in intracellular transport, coated with the protein complex called coatomer. They mediate the transport of cargo molecules between different compartments within the cell, playing essential roles in maintaining cellular organization and homeostasis.
