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ELAM LACHLAN, QUIÑONES-FRÍAS MÓNICAC, ZHANG YING, RODAL AVITALA, FAI THOMASG. FAST SOLVER FOR DIFFUSIVE TRANSPORT TIMES ON DYNAMIC INTRACELLULAR NETWORKS. SIAM JOURNAL ON APPLIED MATHEMATICS 2024; 84:S476-S492. [PMID: 38912397 PMCID: PMC11190615 DOI: 10.1137/22m1509308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The transport of particles in cells is influenced by the properties of intracellular networks they traverse while searching for localized target regions or reaction partners. Moreover, given the rapid turnover in many intracellular structures, it is crucial to understand how temporal changes in the network structure affect diffusive transport. In this work, we use network theory to characterize complex intracellular biological environments across scales. We develop an efficient computational method to compute the mean first passage times for simulating a particle diffusing along two-dimensional planar networks extracted from fluorescence microscopy imaging. We first benchmark this methodology in the context of synthetic networks, and subsequently apply it to live-cell data from endoplasmic reticulum tubular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- LACHLAN ELAM
- Department of Mathematics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
| | | | - YING ZHANG
- Department of Mathematics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
| | | | - THOMAS G. FAI
- Department of Mathematics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
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Sung H, Lloyd TE. Disrupted endoplasmic reticulum-mediated autophagosomal biogenesis in a Drosophila model of C9-ALS-FTD. Autophagy 2024; 20:94-113. [PMID: 37599467 PMCID: PMC10761023 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2249750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
ABBREVIATIONS 3R: UAS construct expressing 3 G4C2 repeats (used as control); 3WJ: three-way junction; 12R: UAS construct expressing leader sequence and 12 G4C2 repeats; 30R: UAS construct expressing 30 G4C2 repeats; 36R: UAS construct expressing 36 G4C2 repeats; 44R: UAS construct expressing leader sequence and 44 G4C2 repeats; ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Atg: autophagy related; atl: atlastin; C9-ALS-FTD: ALS or FTD caused by hexanuleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FTD: frontotemporal dementia; HRE: GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion; HSP: hereditary spastic paraplegia; Lamp1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; MT: microtubule; NMJ: neuromuscular junction; Rab: Ras-associated binding GTPase; RAN: repeat associated non-AUG (RAN) translation; RO-36: UAS construct expression "RNA-only" version of 36 G4C2 repeats in which stop codons in all six reading frames are inserted.; Rtnl1: Reticulon-like 1; SN: segmental nerve; TFEB/Mitf: transcription factor EB/microphthalmia associated transcription factor (Drosophila ortholog of TFEB); TrpA1: transient receptor potential cation channel A1; VAPB: VAMP associated protein B and C; VNC: ventral nerve cord (spinal cord in Drosophila larvae).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Sung
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas E. Lloyd
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Scott ZC, Koning K, Vanderwerp M, Cohen L, Westrate LM, Koslover EF. Endoplasmic reticulum network heterogeneity guides diffusive transport and kinetics. Biophys J 2023; 122:3191-3205. [PMID: 37401053 PMCID: PMC10432226 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a dynamic network of interconnected sheets and tubules that orchestrates the distribution of lipids, ions, and proteins throughout the cell. The impact of its complex, dynamic morphology on its function as an intracellular transport hub remains poorly understood. To elucidate the functional consequences of ER network structure and dynamics, we quantify how the heterogeneity of the peripheral ER in COS7 cells affects diffusive protein transport. In vivo imaging of photoactivated ER membrane proteins demonstrates their nonuniform spreading to adjacent regions, in a manner consistent with simulations of diffusing particles on extracted network structures. Using a minimal network model to represent tubule rearrangements, we demonstrate that ER network dynamics are sufficiently slow to have little effect on diffusive protein transport. Furthermore, stochastic simulations reveal a novel consequence of ER network heterogeneity: the existence of "hot spots" where sparse diffusive reactants are more likely to find one another. ER exit sites, specialized domains regulating cargo export from the ER, are shown to be disproportionately located in highly accessible regions, further from the outer boundary of the cell. Combining in vivo experiments with analytic calculations, quantitative image analysis, and computational modeling, we demonstrate how structure guides diffusive protein transport and reactions in the ER.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Koning
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Molly Vanderwerp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | | | - Laura M Westrate
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Elena F Koslover
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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Scott S, Weiss M, Selhuber-Unkel C, Barooji YF, Sabri A, Erler JT, Metzler R, Oddershede LB. Extracting, quantifying, and comparing dynamical and biomechanical properties of living matter through single particle tracking. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:1513-1537. [PMID: 36546878 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01384c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A panoply of new tools for tracking single particles and molecules has led to an explosion of experimental data, leading to novel insights into physical properties of living matter governing cellular development and function, health and disease. In this Perspective, we present tools to investigate the dynamics and mechanics of living systems from the molecular to cellular scale via single-particle techniques. In particular, we focus on methods to measure, interpret, and analyse complex data sets that are associated with forces, materials properties, transport, and emergent organisation phenomena within biological and soft-matter systems. Current approaches, challenges, and existing solutions in the associated fields are outlined in order to support the growing community of researchers at the interface of physics and the life sciences. Each section focuses not only on the general physical principles and the potential for understanding living matter, but also on details of practical data extraction and analysis, discussing limitations, interpretation, and comparison across different experimental realisations and theoretical frameworks. Particularly relevant results are introduced as examples. While this Perspective describes living matter from a physical perspective, highlighting experimental and theoretical physics techniques relevant for such systems, it is also meant to serve as a solid starting point for researchers in the life sciences interested in the implementation of biophysical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Scott
- Institute of Physiology, Kiel University, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 5, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christine Selhuber-Unkel
- Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Max Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Younes F Barooji
- Niels Bohr Institute, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Adal Sabri
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Janine T Erler
- BRIC, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ralf Metzler
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht Str. 24/25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.,Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
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Intertwined and Finely Balanced: Endoplasmic Reticulum Morphology, Dynamics, Function, and Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092341. [PMID: 34571990 PMCID: PMC8472773 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle that is responsible for many essential subcellular processes. Interconnected narrow tubules at the periphery and thicker sheet-like regions in the perinuclear region are linked to the nuclear envelope. It is becoming apparent that the complex morphology and dynamics of the ER are linked to its function. Mutations in the proteins involved in regulating ER structure and movement are implicated in many diseases including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ER is also hijacked by pathogens to promote their replication. Bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia trachomatis, as well as the Zika virus, bind to ER morphology and dynamics-regulating proteins to exploit the functions of the ER to their advantage. This review covers our understanding of ER morphology, including the functional subdomains and membrane contact sites that the organelle forms. We also focus on ER dynamics and the current efforts to quantify ER motion and discuss the diseases related to ER morphology and dynamics.
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Speckner K, Weiss M. Single-Particle Tracking Reveals Anti-Persistent Subdiffusion in Cell Extracts. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 23:892. [PMID: 34356433 PMCID: PMC8303845 DOI: 10.3390/e23070892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Single-particle tracking (SPT) has become a powerful tool to quantify transport phenomena in complex media with unprecedented detail. Based on the reconstruction of individual trajectories, a wealth of informative measures become available for each particle, allowing for a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions. While SPT has been used frequently to explore diffusive transport in artificial fluids and inside living cells, intermediate systems, i.e., biochemically active cell extracts, have been studied only sparsely. Extracts derived from the eggs of the clawfrog Xenopus laevis, for example, are known for their ability to support and mimic vital processes of cells, emphasizing the need to explore also the transport phenomena of nano-sized particles in such extracts. Here, we have performed extensive SPT on beads with 20 nm radius in native and chemically treated Xenopus extracts. By analyzing a variety of distinct measures, we show that these beads feature an anti-persistent subdiffusion that is consistent with fractional Brownian motion. Chemical treatments did not grossly alter this finding, suggesting that the high degree of macromolecular crowding in Xenopus extracts equips the fluid with a viscoelastic modulus, hence enforcing particles to perform random walks with a significant anti-persistent memory kernel.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany;
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Scott ZC, Brown AI, Mogre SS, Westrate LM, Koslover EF. Diffusive search and trajectories on tubular networks: a propagator approach. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:80. [PMID: 34143351 PMCID: PMC8213674 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00083-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Several organelles in eukaryotic cells, including mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, form interconnected tubule networks extending throughout the cell. These tubular networks host many biochemical pathways that rely on proteins diffusively searching through the network to encounter binding partners or localized target regions. Predicting the behavior of such pathways requires a quantitative understanding of how confinement to a reticulated structure modulates reaction kinetics. In this work, we develop both exact analytical methods to compute mean first passage times and efficient kinetic Monte Carlo algorithms to simulate trajectories of particles diffusing in a tubular network. Our approach leverages exact propagator functions for the distribution of transition times between network nodes and allows large simulation time steps determined by the network structure. The methodology is applied to both synthetic planar networks and organelle network structures, demonstrating key general features such as the heterogeneity of search times in different network regions and the functional advantage of broadly distributing target sites throughout the network. The proposed algorithms pave the way for future exploration of the interrelationship between tubular network structure and biomolecular reaction kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubenelgenubi C Scott
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Aidan I Brown
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Saurabh S Mogre
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Laura M Westrate
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546, USA
| | - Elena F Koslover
- Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Speckner K, Stadler L, Weiss M. Unscrambling exit site patterns on the endoplasmic reticulum as a quenched demixing process. Biophys J 2021; 120:2532-2542. [PMID: 33932435 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a vital organelle in mammalian cells with a complex morphology. Consisting of sheet-like cisternae in the cell center, the peripheral ER forms a vast tubular network on which a dispersed pattern of a few hundred specialized domains (ER exit sites (ERESs)) is maintained. Molecular details of cargo sorting and vesicle formation at individual ERESs, fueling the early secretory pathway, have been studied in some detail. The emergence of spatially extended ERES patterns, however, has remained poorly understood. Here, we show that these patterns are determined by the underlying ER morphology, suggesting ERESs to emerge from a demixing process that is quenched by the ER network topology. In particular, we observed fewer but larger ERESs when transforming the ER network to more sheet-like morphologies. In contrast, little to no changes with respect to native ERES patterns were observed when fragmenting the ER, indicating that hampering the diffusion-mediated coarse graining of domains is key for native ERES patterns. Model simulations support the notion of effective diffusion barriers impeding the coarse graining and maturation of ERES patterns. We speculate that tuning a simple demixing mechanism by the ER topology allows for a robust but flexible adaption of ERES patterns, ensuring a properly working early secretory pathway in a variety of conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorenz Stadler
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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Shomron O, Hirschberg K, Burakov A, Kamentseva R, Kornilova E, Nadezhdina E, Brodsky I. Positioning of endoplasmic reticulum exit sites around the Golgi depends on BicaudalD2 and Rab6 activity. Traffic 2020; 22:64-77. [PMID: 33314495 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in biogenesis, modification and transport of secreted and membrane proteins. The ER membranes are spread throughout the cell cytoplasm as well as the export domains known as ER exit sites (ERES). A subpopulation of ERES is centrally localized proximal to the Golgi apparatus. The significance of this subpopulation on ER-to-Golgi transport remains unclear. Transport carriers (TCs) form at the ERES via a COPII-dependent mechanism and move to Golgi on microtubule (MT) tracks. It was shown previously that ERES are distributed along MTs and undergo chaotic short-range movements and sporadic rapid long-range movements. The long-range movements of ERES are impaired by either depolymerization of MTs or inhibition of dynein, suggesting that ERES central concentration is mediated by dynein activity. We demonstrate that the processive movements of ERES are frequently coupled with the TC departure. Using the Sar1a[H79G]-induced ERES clustering at the perinuclear region, we identified BicaudalD2 (BicD2) and Rab6 as components of the dynein adaptor complex which drives perinuclear ERES concentration at the cell center. BicD2 partially colocalized with ERES and with TC. Peri-Golgi ERES localization was significantly affected by inhibition of BicD2 function with its N-terminal fragment or inhibition of Rab6 function with its dominant-negative mutant. Golgi accumulation of secretory protein was delayed by inhibition of Rab6 and BicD2. Thus, we conclude that a BicD2/Rab6 dynein adaptor is required for maintenance of Golgi-associated ERES. We propose that Golgi-associated ERES may enhance the efficiency of the ER-to-Golgi transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Shomron
- Tel-Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Koret Hirschberg
- Tel-Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anton Burakov
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, A. N. Belozersky Institute for Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Rimma Kamentseva
- Division of Intracellular Signaling and Transport, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Science, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Kornilova
- Division of Intracellular Signaling and Transport, Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Science, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Nadezhdina
- Division of Cell Biology, Institute of Protein Research of Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Ilya Brodsky
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, A. N. Belozersky Institute for Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Sabri A, Xu X, Krapf D, Weiss M. Elucidating the Origin of Heterogeneous Anomalous Diffusion in the Cytoplasm of Mammalian Cells. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:058101. [PMID: 32794890 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.058101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion of tracer particles in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells is often anomalous with a marked heterogeneity even within individual particle trajectories. Despite considerable efforts, the mechanisms behind these observations have remained largely elusive. To tackle this problem, we performed extensive single-particle tracking experiments on quantum dots in the cytoplasm of living mammalian cells at varying conditions. Analyses of the trajectories reveal a strong, microtubule-dependent subdiffusion with antipersistent increments and a substantial heterogeneity. Furthermore, particles stochastically switch between different mobility states, most likely due to transient associations with the cytoskeleton-shaken endoplasmic reticulum network. Comparison to simulations highlight that all experimental observations can be fully described by an intermittent fractional Brownian motion, alternating between two states of different mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adal Sabri
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Xinran Xu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Diego Krapf
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental Physics I, University of Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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Takagi J, Kimori Y, Shimada T, Hara-Nishimura I. Dynamic Capture and Release of Endoplasmic Reticulum Exit Sites by Golgi Stacks in Arabidopsis. iScience 2020; 23:101265. [PMID: 32585594 PMCID: PMC7322076 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi stacks is mediated by the coat protein complex COPII, which is assembled at an ER subdomain called ER exit site (ERES). However, the dynamic relationship between ERESs and Golgi stacks is unknown. Here, we propose a dynamic capture-and-release model of ERESs by Golgi stacks in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using variable-angle epifluorescence microscopy with high-temporal-resolution imaging, COPII-component-bound ERESs were detected as punctate structures with sizes of 300–500 nm. Some punctate ERESs are distributed on ER tubules and sheet rims, whereas others gather around a Golgi stack in an ER-network cavity to form a beaded-ring structure. Free ERESs that wander into an ER cavity are captured by a Golgi stack in a cytoskeleton-independent manner. Then, they are released by the Golgi stack for recycling. The dynamic ERES cycling might contribute to efficient transfer of de novo synthesized cargo proteins from the ER to Golgi stacks. VAEM images show dynamic behavior of minimal punctate ERESs Most of punctate ERESs are distributed on the ER network tubes Several punctate ERESs contact with a Golgi stack in an ER network cavity ERESs are dynamically captured and released by Golgi stacks
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpei Takagi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Kimori
- Faculty of Environmental and Information Sciences, Fukui University of Technology, Fukui 910-8505, Japan
| | - Tomoo Shimada
- Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Xu Z, Gao L, Chen P, Yan LT. Diffusive transport of nanoscale objects through cell membranes: a computational perspective. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:3869-3881. [PMID: 32236197 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02338k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion is an essential and fundamental means of transport of substances on cell membranes, and the dynamics of biomembranes plays a crucial role in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. The understanding of the complex mechanisms and the nature of particle diffusion have a bearing on establishing guidelines for the design of efficient transport materials and unique therapeutic approaches. Herein, this review article highlights the most recent advances in investigating diffusion dynamics of nanoscale objects on biological membranes, focusing on the approaches of tailored computer simulations and theoretical analysis. Due to the presence of the complicated and heterogeneous environment on native cell membranes, the diffusive transport behaviors of nanoparticles exhibit unique and variable characteristics. The general aspects and basic theories of normal diffusion and anomalous diffusion have been introduced. In addition, the influence of a series of external and internal factors on the diffusion behaviors is discussed, including particle size, membrane curvature, particle-membrane interactions or particle-inclusion, and the crowding degree of membranes. Finally, we seek to identify open problems in the existing experimental, simulation, and theoretical research studies, and to propose challenges for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Lijuan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Pengyu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Li-Tang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
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