Formation of cellular close-ended tunneling nanotubes through mechanical deformation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35353579.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abj3995 and PMC identifier 8967236.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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Abstract
Membrane nanotubes or tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) that connect cells have been recognized as a previously unidentified pathway for intercellular transport between distant cells. However, it is unknown how this delicate structure, which extends over tens of micrometers and remains robust for hours, is formed. Here, we found that a TNT develops from a double filopodial bridge (DFB) created by the physical contact of two filopodia through helical deformation of the DFB. The transition of a DFB to a close-ended TNT is most likely triggered by disruption of the adhesion of two filopodia by mechanical energy accumulated in a twisted DFB when one of the DFB ends is firmly attached through intercellular cadherin-cadherin interactions. These studies pinpoint the mechanistic questions about TNTs and elucidate a formation mechanism.