A Study on Endocytosis Pathway of Nephrin

Abstract: To study the intracellular endocytic pathway of nephrin and the possible effects on maintaining the integrate of slit diaphgram. An eukaryotic expression vector of nephrin was constructed and was transfected into COS-7 cells. Triple immunofluorescence was used to stain membrane and plasma expressing nephrin molecules. By using markers of clathrin- and raft-mediated pathways， a laser scanning confocal microscopy was applied to study the endocytic character of nephrin in different time points. 68.44%±4.6% of nephrin was endocytosed via clathrin pathway at 2min， 65.24%±4.02% of nephrin was endocytosed via a raft associated pathway at 20 min. Both routes can be inhibited by the relative inhibitors. The data indicated that both CME and RME pathways were involved in nephrin endocytosis suggesting that nephrin perform its function via distinct pathways.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2010.04.0004