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The molecular basis of induction and formation of tunneling nanotubes

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Abstract

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) and associated structures are recently recognized structures for intercellular communication. They are F-actin-containing thin protrusions of the plasma membrane of a cell and allow a direct physical connection to the plasma membranes of remote cells. TNTs and associated structures serve as mediators for intercellular transfer of organelles as well as membrane components and cytoplasmic molecules. Moreover, several pathogens have been shown to exploit these structures to spread among cells. Because of their contribution to normal cellular functions and importance in pathological conditions, studies on TNTs and related structures have accelerated over the past few years. These studies have revealed key molecules for their induction and/or formation; HIV Nef and M-Sec can induce the formation of TNTs in coordination with the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and vesicle trafficking.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Peter D. Burrows for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Shunsuke Kimura

  2. Laboratory for Epithelial Immunobiology, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan

    Shunsuke Kimura & Hiroshi Ohno

  3. Laboratory for Mucosal Barriology, International R&D Center for MucoVac, The Institute for Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan

    Koji Hase

  4. Laboratory for Bioenvironmental Epigenetics, Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan

    Koji Hase

  5. PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, 102-0075, Japan

    Koji Hase

  6. Division of Immunobiology, Department of Supramolecular Biology, Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan

    Hiroshi Ohno

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  1. Shunsuke Kimura
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Correspondence to Hiroshi Ohno.

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Time-lapse video microscopy of GFP-M-Sec-transfected HeLa cells. (MOV 259 kb)

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Kimura, S., Hase, K. & Ohno, H. The molecular basis of induction and formation of tunneling nanotubes. Cell Tissue Res 352, 67–76 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1518-1

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