Endocytosis via caveolae: alternative pathway with distinct cellular compartments to avoid lysosomal degradation?

Endocytosis--the uptake of extracellular ligands, soluble molecules, protein and lipids from the extracellular surface--is a vital process, comprising multiple mechanisms, including phagocytosis, macropinocytosis, clathrin-dependent and clathrin-independent uptake such as caveolae-mediated and non-caveolar raft-dependent endocytosis. The best-studied endocytotic pathway for internalizing both bulk…