Caveolae are plasmalemmal microdomains that are involved in vesicular trafficking and
signal transduction. We have sought to identify novel integral membrane proteins of
caveolae. Here we describe the identification and molecular cloning of flotillin. By several
independent methods, flotillin behaves as a resident integral membrane protein component
of caveolae. Furthermore, we have identified epidermal surface antigen both as a flotillin
homologue and as a resident caveolar protein. Significantly, flotillin is a marker for the Triton …