Caveolae and their coat proteins, the caveolins: from electron microscopic novelty to biological launching pad.

Caveolins are a family of proteins that coat the cytoplasmic face of caveolae, vesicular invaginations of the plasma membrane. These proteins are central to the organization of the proteins and lipids that reside in caveolae. Caveolins transport cholestrol to and from caveolae, and they regulate the activity of signaling proteins that reside in caveolae. Studying the genes encoding the caveolae coat proteins, we have learned much about how they perform these multiple functions. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.