Exocytosis and Endocytosis

Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.

Jean Brainard, Ph.D.

Say Thanks to the Authors

Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks
(No sign in required)
 AUTHORS
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other
Jean Brainard, Ph.D.
interactive content, visit www.ck12.org

CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to

reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in
the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-source, collaborative, and
web-based compilation model, CK-12 pioneers and promotes the
creation and distribution of high-quality, adaptive online textbooks
that can be mixed, modified and printed (i.e., the FlexBook®
textbooks).

Copyright © 2015 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org

The names “CK-12” and “CK12” and associated logos and the
terms “FlexBook®” and “FlexBook Platform®” (collectively
“CK-12 Marks”) are trademarks and service marks of CK-12
Foundation and are protected by federal, state, and international
laws.

Any form of reproduction of this book in any format or medium,

in whole or in sections must include the referral attribution link
http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (placed in a visible location) in
addition to the following terms.

Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12

Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance
with the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0
Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Com-
mons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated
herein by this reference.

Complete terms can be found at http://www.ck12.org/about/

terms-of-use.

Printed: November 9, 2015

www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Exocytosis and Endocytosis

C HAPTER
1 Exocytosis and
Endocytosis
• Define vesicle transport.
• Describe endocytosis and exocytosis.
• Distinguish phagocytosis from pinocytosis.

What does a cell "eat"?

Is it possible for objects larger than a small molecule to be engulfed by a cell? Of course it is. This image depicts
a cancer cell being attacked by a cell of the immune system. Cells of the immune system consistently destroy
pathogens by essentially "eating" them.

Vesicle Transport

Some molecules or particles are just too large to pass through the plasma membrane or to move through a transport
protein. So cells use two other active transport processes to move these macromolecules (large molecules) into or
out of the cell. Vesicles or other bodies in the cytoplasm move macromolecules or large particles across the plasma
membrane. There are two types of vesicle transport, endocytosis and exocytosis (illustrated in Figure 1.1). Both
processes are active transport processes, requiring energy.

Endocytosis and Exocytosis

Endocytosis is the process of capturing a substance or particle from outside the cell by engulfing it with the cell
membrane. The membrane folds over the substance and it becomes completely enclosed by the membrane. At this
point a membrane-bound sac, or vesicle, pinches off and moves the substance into the cytosol. There are two main
kinds of endocytosis:

1
 www.ck12.org

FIGURE 1.1
Illustration of the two types of vesicle
transport, exocytosis and endocytosis.

• Phagocytosis, or cellular eating, occurs when the dissolved materials enter the cell. The plasma membrane
engulfs the solid material, forming a phagocytic vesicle.
• Pinocytosis, or cellular drinking, occurs when the plasma membrane folds inward to form a channel allowing
dissolved substances to enter the cell, as shown in Figure 1.2. When the channel is closed, the liquid is
encircled within a pinocytic vesicle.

FIGURE 1.2
Transmission electron microscope image
of brain tissue that shows pinocytotic vesi-
cles. Pinocytosis is a type of endocyto-
sis.

Exocytosis describes the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane and releasing their contents to the
outside of the cell, as shown in Figure 1.3. Exocytosis occurs when a cell produces substances for export, such as a
protein, or when the cell is getting rid of a waste product or a toxin. Newly made membrane proteins and membrane
lipids are moved on top the plasma membrane by exocytosis. For a detailed animation of cellular secretion, see http

2
www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Exocytosis and Endocytosis

://vcell.ndsu.edu/animations/constitutivesecretion/first.htm .

FIGURE 1.3
Illustration of an axon releasing dopamine
by exocytosis.

Summary

• Active transport is the energy-requiring process of pumping molecules and ions across membranes against a
concentration gradient.
• Endocytosis is the process of capturing a substance or particle from outside the cell by engulfing it with the
cell membrane, and bringing it into the cell.
• Exocytosis describes the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane and releasing their contents to
the outside of the cell.
• Both endocytosis and exocytosis are active transport processes.

Explore More

Use this resource to answer the questions that follow.

• Exocytosis and Endocytosis at http://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/science/biology/endocytosis-and-

exocytosis .

1. What is bulk transport?

2. Describe how exocytosis occurs?
3. What are the types of endocytosis?
4. Some types of endocytosis are non-specific processes. What does this mean?
5. Describe the process of receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Review

1. What is the difference between endocytosis and exocytosis?

2. Why is pinocytosis a form of endocytosis?
3. Are vesicles involved in passive transport? Explain.

3
 www.ck12.org

References

1. Mariana Ruiz Villarreal (LadyofHats) for the CK-12 Foundation. Process of vesicle transport for exocytosis
and endocytosis . CC BY-NC 3.0
2. Louisa Howard, Miguel Marin-Padilla. Electron microscope of pinocytosis . Public Domain
3. Image copyright Andrea Danti, 2014. Axon signaling using exocytosis . Used under license from Shutter-
stock.com