Endocytosis with clathrin receptor molecules

Cell ingests molecules it needs so that it forms invaginations of the cell membrane. The transported molecule (cholesterol in this case) is linked to the receptor protein (clathrin) during the transport.

At the beginning of this animation you are located outside the cell. You see the balls representing the cholesterol molecules that will be ingested. The animation shows how the cholesterol binds to the clathrin and the pinocytotic vesicle is formed. Finally you observe from inside of the cell the pinocytotic vesicle with clathrin-cholesterol complexes on its membrane.