Formation of cellular close-ended tunneling nanotubes through mechanical deformation

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...

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Published in:Science advances 2022-04, Vol.8 (13), p.eabj3995-eabj3995
Main Authors: Chang, Minhyeok, Lee, O-Chul, Bu, Gayun, Oh, Jaeho, Yunn, Na-Oh, Ryu, Sung Ho, Kwon, Hyung-Bae, Kolomeisky, Anatoly B, Shim, Sang-Hee, Doh, Junsang, Jeon, Jae-Hyung, Lee, Jong-Bong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedicine and Life Sciences
SciAdv r-articles
Structural Biology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2375-2548
2375-2548
DOI:10.1126/sciadv.abj3995