Author/Editor		Lokar, Maruša; Iglič, Aleš; Veranič, Peter
Title		Protruding membrane nanotubes: attachment of tubular protrusions to adjacent cells by several anchoring junctions
Type		članek
Source		Protoplasma
Vol. and No.		Letnik 246, št. 1-4
Publication year		2010
Volume		str. 81-87
Language		eng
Abstract		Membrane nanotubes are a morphologically versatile group of membrane structures (some resembling filopodia), usually connecting two closely positioned cells. ln this article, we set morphological criteria that distinguish the membrane nanotubes from filopodia, as there is no specific molecular marker known to date that unequivocally differentiates between filopodia and protruding nanotubes Membrane nanotubes have been extensively studi ed from the rnorphological point of view and the transport that can be conducted through thern, but little is known(iboutthe way they connect to the adjacent cell. Our results show that the nanotubes may connect to a neighgor.ing cell by anchoring junctions. Among cell adhesion proteins, Ncadherin, beta-catenin, nectin-2, afadin and the desmosomal protein desmoplakin-2 were immune-labeled. We found that N-cadherin and beta-catenin are concentrated in nanotubes, while the concentrations of other junction-involved proteins are not increased in these stmctures. On the basis of data from transmission electron microscopy, we propose a model of the nanotube attachement where the connection of nanotubes is stabilized by several anchoring junctions, most Iikely adherens junctions that are formed when the nanotube is sliding along the target celi membrane.
Descriptors		UROTHELIUM INTERCELLULAR JUNCTIONS CELL MEMBRANE CELL ADHESION MOLECULES PSEUDOPODIA MICROCHEMISTRY CELL LINE FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON CADHERINS