Cavin proteins: New players in the caveolae field

Caveolae are specialized lipid microdomains, forming small invaginations in the plasma membrane, known to be implicated in multiple functions including lipid storage, cell signaling and endocytosis. Formation of these wide flask-shaped invaginations is dependent on the expression of a caveolar coat-protein, namely caveolin. Until now, the accepted paradigm was that caveolin was the sole and only structural protein of caveolae since its expression was necessary and sufficient to drive caveolae biogenesis. The recent characterizations of PTRF/cavin-1 and subsequently other cavin family members in caveolae formation have highlighted additional levels of complexity in the biogenesis of these plasma membrane invaginations. In this review, recent advances on the role of the different cavin family members in the regulation of caveolae structures as well as potential new functions will be discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.