Differential identity of Filopodia and Tunneling Nanotubes revealed by the opposite functions of actin regulatory complexes.

ABSTRACT: Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs) are actin enriched filopodia-like protrusions that play a pivotal role in long-range intercellular communication. Different pathogens use TNT-like structures as "freeways" to propagate across cells. TNTs are also implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, making them promising therapeutic targets. Understanding the mechanism of their formation, and their relation with filopodia is of fundamental importance to uncover their physiological function, particularly since filopodia, differently from TNTs, are not able to mediate transfer of cargo between distant cells. Here we studied different regulatory complexes of actin, which play a role in the formation of both these structures. We demonstrate that the filopodia-promoting CDC42/IRSp53/VASP network negati

SUBMITTER: Delage E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5180355 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature