During my thesis work I studied membrane sorting in the endocytic pathway, in mammalian cells and in the amoeba "Dictyostelium discoideum". In the first part (1), I studied sorting of membrane proteins devoid of known endocytosis signals. My results show that, in addition to cytoplasmic tails of membrane proteins, then transmembrane regions determine whether they are excluded or not from clathrincoated pits, and thus controls their access to endosomal compartmemts. In the second part (2), I studied membrane sorting during phagocytosis and macropinocytosis. I used for this the amoeba "Dictyostelium discoideum". My results show that several plasma membrane proteins are excluded from the membrane of the newly formed phagosome. This exclusion starts in the membrane delimiting the phagocytic and the macropinocytic cups. Analysis of mutant strains revealed that clathrin-associated adaptor complexes were not necessary for this selective exclusion. In third part (3), I characterized the previously uncharacterized recycling endosomes in "Dictyostelium discoideum"

This book covers the past, present and future of the intra-cellular trafficking field, which has made a quantum leap in the last few decades. It details how the field has developed and evolved as well as examines future directions.

In this book, skilled experts provide the most up-to-date, step-by-step laboratory protocols for examining molecular machinery and biological functions of exocytosis and endocytosis in vitro and in vivo. The book is insightful to both newcomers and seasoned professionals. It offers a unique and highly practical guide to versatile laboratory tools developed to study various aspects of intracellular vesicle trafficking in simple model systems and living organisms.

Endocytosis is a fundamental biological process, which is conserved among all eukaryotes. It is essential not only for many physiological and signalling processes but also for interactions between eukaryotic cells and pathogens or symbionts. This book covers all aspects of endocytosis in both lower and higher plants, including basic types of endocytosis, endocytic compartments, and molecules involved in endocytic internalization and recycling in diverse plant cell types. It provides a comparison with endocytosis in animals and yeast and discusses future prospects in this new and rapidly evolving plant research field. Readers will find an overview of the state-of-the-art methods and techniques applied in plant endocytosis research.

The highly structured eucaryotic cell with its complex division of biochemical labour requires a distinct protein complement in each cellular structure and compartment. Nuclear coded and cytosolically synthesized polypeptides are specifically sorted to every corner of the cell in a post- or co-translational manner. The presence of separate genomes and protein translation machineries in plastids and mitochondria requires further coordination not only on the transcriptional, translational but also most likely on the protein import level. Numerous different protein transport systems have developed and coexist within plant cells to ensure the specific and selective composition of every sub-cellular compartment. This volume summarizes the current knowledge on protein trafficking in plant cells. Aside from the fundamental aspects in cell biology of how specific pre-protein sorting and translocation across biological membranes is achieved, a major focus is on transport, modification and deposition of plant storage proteins. The increasing use of plants as bioreactors to provide custom-designed proteins of different usage requires detailed understanding of these events. This text is directed not only at students and professionals in plant cell and molecular biology but also at those involved in horticulture and plant breeding. It is intended to serve as a text and guide for graduate-level courses on plant cell biology and as a valuable supplement to courses in plant physiology and development. Scientists in other disciplines who wish to learn more about protein translocation in plants will also find this text an up-to-date source of information and reference.