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On the structure of coated vesicles

1976; Elsevier BV; Volume: 103; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-2836(76)90209-6

1089-8638

R.A. Crowther, J.T. Pinch, Barbara M. F. Pearse,

Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Electron micrographs of tilted specimens of coated vesicles show that their coats are based on polyhedral lattices constructed from 12 pentagons plus a variable number of hexagons. We have identified three such structures among the smaller particles, two containing 108 molecules of clathrin and a third containing 84. The coats of larger particles are believed to be constructed on similar principles. This polymorphism enables a variety of vesicles to be accommodated in an economical manner.