Sandbox8999: Difference between revisions

Individual clathrin molecules can assemble into cage-like structures. When individual clathrin molecules come together, a lattice is formed where each lattice point is associated with the center of a triskelion (from the Greek word meaning “a three legged structure”). <ref name="harrison" /> According to Crowther, R.A., clathrin vesicles are constructed from 12 pentagonal units plus a number of hexagonal units, with the number of hexagons increasing for larger clathrin coats<ref name="crowther">PMID: 7328122 </ref>. The term “cage” can be used to refer to empty shells composed only of clathrin where “coat” refers to clathrin plus associated proteins and vesicles<ref name="crowther" />. Clathrin lattices are formed under optimal conditions of physiological pH (6.0-6.5) and in the presence of Calcium or Magnesium ions<ref name="crowther" />. Various packing models have been investigated as to how the individual triskelion legs assemble into clathrin cages<ref name="crowther" />. As mentioned above, the center of the triskelion legs occurs at each vertex of the cage, meaning pentagons, heptagons, and hexagons can be formed<ref name="crowther" />. In the individual triskelion legs, the bend in the leg is 160 Angstroms from the vertex, giving rise to two models of packing: simple side-by-side packing or a cross-over type of packing<ref name="crowther" />. Cross-over packing occurs when a hexamer of triskelions are formed with crossing over of the leg portions of the triskelions<ref name="crowther" />. Simple packing does not involve crossing over, but side by side packing of the leg portions of the triskelions<ref name="crowther" />.  

== Function ==