endocytosis Hear it!

endocytosis Definition

endo·cy·to·sis (-sī tōsis)

noun

a process in which a cell engulfs a large molecule, bacterium, etc. and forms a vesicle around it

endocytosis Related Forms
en′do·cytic (-sitik) adjective en′do·cy·tose′ (-sītōs′, -tōz′) transitive verb, intransitive verb -·tosed′, -·tos′ing en′do·cy·totic (-sī tätik) adjective
endocytosis Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • mediate: For example, most cells take up cholesterol through receptor mediated endocytosis.

Adjective modifier

  • receptor-mediated: Vitamin B 12 is absorbed by cells in the upper part of the human small intestine, via receptor-mediated endocytosis.
  • synaptic: Biochem Soc Trans ( In Press ) Smillie KJ, Cousin MA ( 2005 ) Role of dynamin I phosphorylation in synaptic vesicle endocytosis.

Noun used with modifier

  • vesicle: Biochem Soc Trans ( In Press ) Smillie KJ, Cousin MA ( 2005 ) Role of dynamin I phosphorylation in synaptic vesicle endocytosis.
  • fluid-phase: Cytosolic entry of bisphosphonate drugs requires acidification of vesicles after fluid-phase endocytosis.