Caveolae isoforms

The distinguishing structural and functional protein for caveolae is caveolin. Caveolin proteins display properties that are likely involved in the distinguishing morphology of caveolae. Caveolins have a high affinity for both cholesterol and sphingolipids coupled with 3 carboxy-terminal palmitoylated cysteine residues. Three isoforms of caveolin exist and show distinct tissue distribution. Likely because it was discovered first and is perhaps most abundant, caveolin-1 has garnered the lion s share of research attention. 

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