Project summary: Large-scale endocytosis is clathrin-independent, actin-driven bulk endocytosis. The term collectively describes particle uptake or phagocytosis and nonselective bulk uptake of fluid or macropinocytosis. For unicellular organisms like amoeba Dictyostelium, large-scale endocytosis is an exclusive way of feeding, while for metazoan cells it is one of several, not preferred, pathways of nutrient uptake.

However, mammalian cells use both types of large-scale endocytosis for other physiological functions, besides feeding. The best example are cells of the immune system that use both phagocytosis and macropinocytosis for removal of apoptotic cells and pathogens from tissues and to scan extracellular fluids for the presence of foreign antigens. Large-scale endocytosis is also linked to several pathological conditions like neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis and cancer..

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