|
Sci. STKE, 6 December 2005 PERSPECTIVESLong-Distance Calls Between Cells Connected by Tunneling NanotubulesBjörn Önfelt, Marco A. Purbhoo, Shlomo Nedvetzki, Stefanie Sowinski, and Daniel M. Davis* Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Summary: Long membrane tethers between cells, known as membrane nantotubes or tunneling nanotubules, create supracellular structures that allow multiple cell bodies to act in a synchronized manner. Calcium fluxes, vesicles, and cell-surface components can all traffic between cells connected by nanotubes. Thus, complex and specific messages can be transmitted between multiple cells, and the strength of signal will suffer relatively little with the distance traveled, as compared to the use of soluble factors to transmit messages. Connecting multiple antigen-presenting cells, for example, can help amplify and coordinate immune responses that are distal to an antigenic site. Conversely, because the ability of a pathogen to spread between cells is a key determinant of its capacity to multiply, pathogens may exploit nanotubes for their own transmission. *Corresponding author. E-mail, d.davis{at}imperial.ac.uk
Citation: B. Önfelt, M. A. Purbhoo, S. Nedvetzki, S. Sowinski, D. M. Davis, Long-Distance Calls Between Cells Connected by Tunneling Nanotubules. Sci. STKE 2005, pe55 (2005). The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:In Science Signaling
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
|
Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882)
Magazine | News | Signaling | Careers | Multimedia | Collections | Help | Site Map | RSS
Subscribe | Feedback | Privacy / Legal | About Us | Advertise With Us | Contact Us
© 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.
AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, PatientInform, CrossRef, and COUNTER.
You have reached the bottom of the page. Back to top