Molecular mechanisms of membrane trafficking. What do we learn from Dictyostelium discoideum?

Thanks to increasing interest, understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular membrane transport is truly emerging. An even more rapid advance is expected since the recognition that efforts to unravel both membrane traffic and cytoskeleton need to be concerted. The two main membrane traffic pathways are the biosynthetic/ secretory route, where transport occurs from the ER via the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane and the endocytic route involving the flow from the plasma membrane to the degradative compartment. These two pathways intersect at many compartments, both comprise multiple transport steps and both involve efficient sorting of membrane and soluble proteins. Here, we review recent studies on the dissection of endocytic trafficking in Dictyostelium discoideum and integrate the information in the light of knowledge acquired from other systems