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Endocytosis is said to be an exclusively eukaryotic property. Why did prokaryotes not develop this ability?
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Lucas' point is well taken, especially with the wiley Planctomycetes. If they have internal vesicles (and many prokaryotes do indeed have membrane bounded compartments), and proteins associated with their transit, it is a small leap indeed to endocytosis. My guess is that we will find exocytosis (large scale "blebbing" as the late Terry Beveridge and others found in pseudomonads) first.
We must resist colicentricity! But then, coliforms have enterosomes, come to think of it. Compartments everywhere---with or without membranes...
Posted by: Mark O. Martin | April 30, 2010 at 11:10 AM