Caveolae rely on specialized protein scaffolds to maintain their characteristic membrane shape and function. Here, authors show dynamin-like EHD2 assembles into ring-like filaments that stabilize cave...

Our cells' membranes have many functions. They not only provide mechanical protection but also precisely control which substances enter or leave cells.

Membrane insertion of Dyngo-4a results in a dynamin-independent inhibition of caveola dynamics, revealing that outer leaflet lipid packing in the plasma membrane contributes to the confinement of caveolae.

Membrane insertion of Dyngo-4a results in a dynamin-independent inhibition of caveola dynamics, revealing that outer leaflet lipid packing in the plasma membrane contributes to the confinement of caveolae.

Read the full paper: Lipid packing contributes to the confinement of caveolae to the plasma membrane

Caveolae are invaginated plasma membrane nanodomains traditionally associated with membrane trafficking and signalling. These multifunctional organelles are also essential mechanosensors mediating the cell response to mechanical stress. We investigated the role of caveolae mechanics in regulating various signalling pathways. Single-molecule imaging and super-resolution microscopy revealed that mechanical stress rapidly triggers caveolae disassembly and the release of caveolin-1 scaffolds, which then exhibit enhanced diffusion at the plasma membrane. This promoted direct interaction between the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain and the tyrosine kinase JAK1, leading to the inhibition of its catalytic activity. A similar process was observed for eNOS, PTEN and PTP1B. The control of signalling by diffusing Cav1 scaffolds was further validated by a theoretical model based on caveolae thermodynamics. These findings establish a mechanotransduction paradigm in which signalling information is decod

Mani, Tardif, Rossier et al. show that mechanical stress triggers caveolin-1 release from caveolae, enabling its diffusion in the plasma membrane and interaction with signalling effectors to regulate ...

Mani, Tardif, Rossier et al. show that mechanical stress triggers caveolin-1 release from caveolae, enabling its diffusion in the plasma membrane and interaction with signalling effectors to regulate ...

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41580-026-00964-2Caveolae are membrane invaginations that facilitate cell signalling and act as membrane reservoirs. This Review discusses recent insights into caveolae assembly and disassembly, their roles in mechanotransduction and how impaired caveolae mechanics contribute to human disease.

Caveolae are plasma membrane invaginations playing crucial functions, like signal transduction and mechanoprotection. Here, the authors show that caveolae contribute to skin pigmentation by integrating the biochemical and mechanical response of epidermal melanocytes to extracellular cues.

Lamaze, C., Tardif, N., Dewulf, M., Vassilopoulos, S. & Blouin, C. M. The caveolae dress code: structure and signaling. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 47, 117–125 (2017). Ludwig, A. et al. Molecular composition and ultrastructure of the caveolar coat complex. PLoS Biol. 11, e1001640 (2013). Gambin, Y. et al. Single-molecule analysis reveals self assembly and nanoscale segregation of two distinct cavin subcomplexes on caveolae. eLife 3, e01434 (2013). Kovtun, O. et al. Structural insights into the organization of the cavin membrane coat complex. Dev. Cell 31, 405–419 (2014). Palade, G. E. The fine structure of blood capillaries. J. Appl. Phys. 24, 1424 (1953). Sinha, B. et al. Cells respond to mechanical stress by rapid disassembly of caveolae. Cell 144, 402–413 (2011) . Wang, H., Pilch, P. F. & Liu, L. Cavin-1/PTRF mediates insulin-dependent focal adhesion remodeling and ameliorates high-fat diet-induced inflammatory responses in mice. J. Biol. Chem. 294, 10544–10552 (2019). Wu, Y. et al. Caveolae sense oxidative stress through membrane lipid peroxidation and cytosolic release of CAVIN1 to regulate NRF2. Dev. Cell 58, 376–397 (2023). Wu, Y. et al. Pro-ferroptotic lipids as key control points for caveola formation and disassembly. Cell Rep. 44, 115789 (2025). Parton, R. G. et al. Caveolae:...

In response to osmotic stress, caveolin-1 is internalized into large, neutral pH lysosomal vacuoles via CLIC-dependent endocytosis. Caveolin-1 recycles back to the cell surface upon return to isotonic conditions, identifying a recycling pathway enabling caveolae membrane buffering function in response to membrane stress.