Pinocytosis

Pinocytosis

In cellular biology, pinocytosis ("cell-drinking", "bulk-phase pinocytosis", "non-specific, non-adsorptive pinocytosis", "fluid endocytosis") is a form of endocytosis in which small particles are brought into the cell suspended within small vesicles which subsequently fuse with lysosomes to hydrolyze, or to break down, the particles. This process requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the chemical compound used as energy in a majority of cells. Pinocytosis is primarily used for the absorption of extracellular fluids (ECF), and in contrast to phagocytosis, generates very small vesicles. Unlike receptor-mediated endocytosis, pinocytosis is unspecific in the substances that it transports. The cell takes in surrounding fluids, including all solutes present. Pinocytosis also works as phagocytosis, the only difference is that phagocytosis is specific in the substances it transports. Phagocystosis actually engulfs whole food particles, which are later broken down by enzymes and absorbed into the cells. Pinocytosis, on the other hand, is when the cell engulfs already dissolved/broken down food.

In contrast, molecule specific endocytosis is called receptor-mediated endocytosis.

References

Campbell, Reece, Mitchell: "Biology", Sixth Edition, Copyright 2002 P.151

Marshall, Ben, Incredible Biological Advancements of the 20th Century, Copyright 2001 p899

ee also

*receptor-mediated endocytosis
*non-specific, adsorptive pinocytosis
*phagocytosis


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pinocytosis — pinocytosis. См. пиноцитоз. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • pinocytosis — from Gk. pinein to drink (see IMBIBE (Cf. imbibe)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • pinocytosis — [pī΄nə sī tō′sis, pin΄əsī tō′sis] n. pl. pinocytoses [pī΄nə sī tō′sēz΄] a type of endocytosis in which the engulfed liquid remains within a separate vacuole pinocytic [pīn΄ōsīt′ik] adj. pinocytotic [pīn΄ōsī tät′ik] …   English World dictionary

  • pinocytosis — Uptake of fluid filled vesicles into cells (endocytosis). Macro pinocytosis and micro pinocytosis are distinct processes, the latter being energy independent and involving the formation of receptor ligand clusters on the outside of the plasma… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • pinocytosis — pinocytotic /pin euh suy tot ik, puy neuh /, adj. /pin euh suy toh sis, puy neuh /, n. Physiol. the transport of fluid into a cell by means of local infoldings by the cell membrane so that a tiny vesicle or sac forms around each droplet, which is …   Universalium

  • Pinocytosis — A cellular process that permits the active transport of fluid from outside the cell through the membrane surrounding the cell into the inside of the cell. In pinocytosis, tiny incuppings called caveolae (little caves) in the surface of the cell… …   Medical dictionary

  • pinocytosis — noun (plural pinocytoses) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek pinein to drink + New Latin cyt + osis more at potable Date: 1895 the uptake of fluid and dissolved substances by a cell by invagination and pinching off of the cell membrane •… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pinocytosis — n. [Gr. pino, drink; kytos, container] Ingestion or absorption of surrounding fluids by a cell, that forms a vesicle by incupping of the surface membrane …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • pinocytosis — (pi no si to sis) The endocytotic process in which a cell encloses a small amount of the surrounding liquid and its solutes in tiny pinocytotic vesicles or pinosomes …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • pinocytosis — noun A form of endocytosis in which material enters a cell through its membrane and is incorporated in vesicles for digestion …   Wiktionary

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