Hansen, C. G. and Nichols, B. J. (2010).
Exploring the caves: cavins, caveolins and caveolae.
Trends Cell Biol 20, 177-86.
Ludwig, A., Otto, G. P., Riento, K., Hams, E., Fallon, P. G. and Nichols, B. J. (2010).
Flotillin microdomains interact with the cortical cytoskeleton to control uropod formation and neutrophil recruitment.
J Cell Biol 191, 771-81.
Riento, K., Frick, M., Schafer, I. and Nichols, B. J. (2009).
Endocytosis of flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 is regulated by Fyn kinase.
J Cell Sci 122, 912-8
Hansen, C. G., Bright, N. A., Howard, G. and Nichols, B. J. (2009).
SDPR induces membrane curvature and functions in the formation of caveolae.
Nat Cell Biol 14, 14.
Hansen, C. G. and Nichols, B. J. (2009).
Molecular mechanisms of clathrin-independent endocytosis.
J Cell Sci 122, 1713-21.
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Group Members
- Kirsi Riento
- Carsten Gram Hansen
- Alexander Ludwig
- Gillian Howard
- Grant Otto
- Elena Shvets
- Vassilis Bitsikas
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The plasma membrane acts as both a barrier and an interface. It allows cells to maintain their internal composition, and provides the surface where most interactions with other cells takes place.
Endocytosis, the process by which components of the plasma membrane and associated ligands are internalized, therefore plays a central role in many key cellular processes, ranging from uptake of nutrients to regulation of intercellular signalling. Endocytosis is also used, or hijacked, by pathogens to gain entry into the cell.
Since the mid-nineties there has been some consensus that mammalian cells have several different mechanisms to carry out the process of endocytosis. Only one mechanism, however, is well understood in terms of molecular details - that involving budding of clathrin-coated pits. We are interested in the mechanism, and perhaps more importantly the cellular function, of other types of endocytosis.
Our current work focuses largely on proteins called flotillins, which define a specific and widespread endocytic pathway. Our main approach in studying these proteins is livecell imaging, and we are now expanding on this to use techniques ranging from biochemical reconstitution in vitro to functional studies in transgenic organisms.
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Group Leaders 
