A membrane reservoir at the cell surface: unfolding the plasma membrane to fuel cell shape change.
Cell surface expansion is a necessary part of cell shape change. One long-standing hypothesis proposes that membrane for this expansion comes from the flattening out of cell surface projections such as microvilli and membrane folds. Correlative EM data of cells undergoing phagocytosis, cytokinesis, and morphogenesis has hinted at the existence of such an unfolding mechanism for decades; but unfolding has only recently been confirmed using live-cell imaging and biophysical approaches. Considering the wide range of cells in which plasma membrane unfolding has now been reported, it likely represents a fundamental mechanism of cell shape change.
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, TX USA; Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program; Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, TX USA.
Lauren
L
Figard
Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, TX USA; Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program; Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, TX USA.
Anna Marie
AM
Sokac
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology*; D048749:Cytokinesis; D005089:Exocytosis; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis
actin; cell shape change; cell surface area regulation; cellularization; exocytosis; microvilli; morphogenesis; plasma membrane tension