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Modeling Intercellular Transfer of Biomolecules Through Tunneling Nanotubes

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Abstract

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) have previosly been observed as long and thin transient structures forming between cells and intercellular protein transfer through them has been experimentally verified. It is hypothesized that this may be a physiologically important means of cell–cell communication. This paper attempts to give a simple model for the rates of transfer of molecules across these TNTs at different distances. We describe the transfer of both cytosolic and membrane bound molecules between neighboring populations of cells and argue how the lifetime of the TNT, the diffusion rate, distance between cells, and the size of the molecules may affect their transfer. The model described makes certain predictions and opens a number of questions to be explored experimentally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Yasir Suhail,  Kshitiz, Mark Walker, Matthew D. Brennan, Joel S. Bader & Andre Levchenko

  2. High-Throughput Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Yasir Suhail & Joel S. Bader

  3. Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Kshitiz, Justin Lee & Deok-Ho Kim

Authors
  1. Yasir Suhail
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  2. Kshitiz
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  3. Justin Lee
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  4. Mark Walker
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  5. Deok-Ho Kim
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  6. Matthew D. Brennan
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  7. Joel S. Bader
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  8. Andre Levchenko
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Correspondence to Andre Levchenko.

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Y. Suhail and Kshitiz contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Suhail, Y., Kshitiz, Lee, J. et al. Modeling Intercellular Transfer of Biomolecules Through Tunneling Nanotubes. Bull Math Biol 75, 1400–1416 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-013-9819-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-013-9819-4

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