Question

What experiment can I used in order to find the difference between macropinocytosis and phagocytosis in a cell ? ( and I know actin is present)

Answer 1

Key Differences Between Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis.

1. Macropinocytosis is the process of ingestion of small liquid particles through plasma membrane with the help of formation of vesicles known as pinosomes; Phagocytosis is the process of ingestion of solid particles through plasma membrane with the help of lysosomes and phagosomes, which release enzymes for breaking the larger particles.
2. The process of engulfing is by Invagination in macropinocytosis, and by pseudopodia in phagocytosis.
3. Lysosomes do not play any role in macropinocytosis, while lysosomes along with phagosomes help in digestion of bigger particles.
4. Macropinocytosis is not substrate specific and cell takes all kind of surrounding fluids with all solutes present while, Phagocytosis is specific in substrate transportation.
5. The purpose of macropinocytosis is used for intake of materials, whereas phagocytosis is used for the defensive purpose by engulfing the foreign particles. The vesicles formed in pinocytosis is pinosomes and that of phagocytosis is known as phagosomes.
6. The particles taken in macropinocytosis are enzymes, hormones, amino acids, sugars, etc. for the purpose of intake of smaller particles; while phagocytosis is performed by neutrophils, macrophages, and protozoans for defensive purpose and ingests dust, foreign particles, harmful bacteria, and virus.