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Overview of Intracellular Compartments and Trafficking Pathways

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Part of the book series: Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit ((MBIU))

Abstract

All eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bounded compartments that interact with the cell’s environment. Vesicles transport proteins and lipids between these compartments via two major pathways: the outwards, exocytic pathway, carries material synthesized in the cytoplasm to the cell milieu, and the inwards, endocytic pathway, internalizes material from the environment to the inside of the cell. This communication of the cell with its environment is crucial for all tissue and organ function. Here, we summarize progress made during the last two decades in our understanding of bi-directional transport pathways between intracellular compartments. The accumulated knowledge of intracellular compartments and pathways that connect them formed the basis for advancements made in our understanding of the molecular machinery components, mechanisms and regulation of intracellular trafficking. Whereas the major compartments and pathways are well defined, less is known about the dynamic nature and biogenesis of compartments.

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Correspondence to Nava Segev .

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Tokarev, A.A., Alfonso, A., Segev, N. (2009). Overview of Intracellular Compartments and Trafficking Pathways. In: Trafficking Inside Cells. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-93877-6_1

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