Investigating the Role of Tethering in Exosomal Secretion
Year: 2023
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Exosomes are a type of membrane vesicles utilized in intercellular communication. Exosomes are first packaged into larger membrane vesicles called multivesicular bodies (MVBs). When exosomes are secreted, the membrane of the MVBs fuses with the cellular membrane, and then the exosomes are released. Experimental observations suggest that the movement of the exosomes is hindered during this process; they require much longer time to leave the fusion site than they would if they were diffusing freely. A prevalent hypothesis is that the cause of this hindrance is attachment of the exosomes to the cell surface. Recent work suggests that tetherin, a transmembrane protein, might be the cause of this attachment. However, the evidence remains inconclusive. We present two computational models describing properties of this system, as well as experimental data exploring the possible involvement of the protein tetherin. The simulations describe properties of a theoretical tether, regardless of its actual nature or identity and the experimental data cannot be simulated without an exosomal tether.
Author: Otruba, Zdeněk
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7019729207