Argosomes: membrane fragments on the run.
Any biology student will know that the plasma membrane separates the inside of a cell from the outside world. Indeed, the plasma membrane is the guardian of a cell's physiology. Fewer students will be aware that cells can export bits of plasma membrane to distant sites in a tissue. Recent work demonstrates the transfer of membrane fragments in a live epithelium and, importantly, suggests that these fragments might be used as a vehicle to transport morphogens in a developing tissue.
Vincent
Jean Paul
JP
Magee
Tony
T
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins