Endosome

"Endosoma" redirects here. For Endosomaphilia, see Vorarephilia.
endocytic pathway compartments
Electron micrograph of endosomes in human HeLa cells. Early endosomes (E - labeled for EGFR, 5 minutes after internalisation, and transferrin), late endosomes/MVBs (M) and lysosomes (L) are visible. Bar, 500 nm.

Endosomes are a collection of intracellular sorting organelles in eukaryotic cells. They are parts of the endocytic membrane transport pathway originating from the trans Golgi network. Molecules or ligands internalized from the plasma membrane can follow this pathway all the way to lysosomes for degradation or can be recycled back to the cell membrane in the endocytic cycle. Molecules are also transported to endosomes from the trans Golgi network and either continue to lysosomes or recycle back to the Golgi apparatus.

Endosomes can be classified as early, sorting, or late depending on their stage post internalization.[1] Endosomes represent a major sorting compartment of the endomembrane system in cells.[2]

  1. ^ Stoorvogel W, Strous GJ, Geuze HJ, Oorschot V, Schwartz AL (May 1991). "Late endosomes derive from early endosomes by maturation". Cell. 65 (3): 417–27. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(91)90459-C. PMID 1850321. S2CID 31539542.
  2. ^ Mellman I (1996). "Endocytosis and molecular sorting". Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 12: 575–625. doi:10.1146/annurev.cellbio.12.1.575. PMID 8970738.