MUSCLE FUNCTION & HOMEOSTASIS / MOLECULAR THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES: P.71 Role of caveolae in T-tubule biogenesis

Abstract

Caveolae, 60-70 nm flask-shaped membrane invaginations of the plasma membrane, are abundant features of muscle cell surface. Caveolin 3, the muscle-specific isoform has been proposed to participate in the process leading to the development of T-tubules, specialised membrane invaginations involved in excitation-contraction coupling. It has been suggested that caveolae could fuse together and provide the substratum for membrane bending and curvature sensing proteins to tubulate lipid membranes. The importance of caveolae and caveolins in skeletal muscle is underscored by the fact that defects in caveolae function and organisation have been reported in several myopathies and that mutations in CAV3 cause a family of autosomal-dominant neuromuscular diseases termed caveolinopathies although to date the pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood.