Molecular mechanisms of force production in clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Abstract

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), a flat patch of membrane is invaginated and pinched off to release a vesicle into the cytoplasm. In yeast CME, over 60 proteins—including a dynamic actin meshwork—self-assemble to deform the plasma membrane. Several models have been proposed for how actin and other molecules produce the forces necessary to overcome the mechanical barriers of membrane tension and turgor pressure, but the precise mechanisms and a full picture of their interplay are still not clear. In this review, we discuss the evidence for these force production models from a quantitative perspective and propose future directions for experimental and theoretical work that could clarify their various contributions.