Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Secretory Vesicles01:33

Overview of Secretory Vesicles

Secretory vesicles, also known as dense core vesicles (DCVs), are membrane-bound vesicles that transport secretory proteins, such as hormones or neurotransmitters. Regulated secretory vesicles transport proteins from the trans-Golgi network to the exterior of the cell. Proteins present in regulated secretory vesicles are required to be rapidly exocytosed in large amounts upon a specific stimulus.
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Exocytosis00:50

Exocytosis

Exocytosis is a process that releases molecules outside the cell. Like other bulk transport mechanisms, exocytosis requires energy.
Exocytosis is the opposite of endocytosis, which brings molecules inside the cell. Sometimes, the released materials are signaling molecules. For example, neurons typically use exocytosis to release neurotransmitters. Cells also use exocytosis to insert proteins such as ion channels into their cell membranes, secrete proteins for use in the extracellular matrix, or...
Exocytosis00:51

Exocytosis

Exocytosis is used to release material from cells. Like other bulk transport mechanisms, exocytosis requires energy.
Vesicular Trasport: Endocytosis, Transcytosis and Exocytosis01:18

Vesicular Trasport: Endocytosis, Transcytosis and Exocytosis

Vesicular transport is a cellular process that encompasses the engulfment of particles or dissolved substances by cells. It involves endocytosis, transcytosis, and exocytosis.
Endocytosis is a cellular mechanism that involves the inward folding of the cell membrane to create vesicles that capture and transport large drug molecules. This process comprises two distinct methods: pinocytosis (often referred to as "cell drinking") and phagocytosis (often referred to as "cell eating"). Pinocytosis is...
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane01:26

Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane

Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
Insulin Secretory Vesicles01:05

Insulin Secretory Vesicles

Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Resolving the dilution paradox to improve the interpretation of extracellular vesicle biomarker studies.

Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis·2026
Same author

The Dilution Paradox in Extracellular Vesicle Flow Cytometry.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2026
Same author

Extracellular Vesicles as Enabling Biomarkers for New Approach Methodologies to Support the US Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 3.0.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2026
Same author

Refractive index of milk fat globules and extracellular vesicles in human milk.

Biophotonics discovery·2026
Same author

Automated Cryo-EM and Supervised Machine Learning Enable Reproducible Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles and Co-Isolating Particles.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2026
Same author

Hemolysis and Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Patients With Preexisting Renal Dysfunction.

Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues
09:57

Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues

Published on: October 17, 2022

Why do cells release vesicles?

Rienk Nieuwland1, Augueste Sturk

  • 1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.nieuwland@amc.nl

Thrombosis Research
|February 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells release vesicles, acting as multi-purpose carriers. These vesicles, including outer membrane vesicles, microparticles, and exosomes, play crucial roles in cell communication and disease, particularly in cancer progression and treatment.

More Related Videos

Tracking miRNA Release into Extracellular Vesicles using Flow Cytometry
07:29

Tracking miRNA Release into Extracellular Vesicles using Flow Cytometry

Published on: October 6, 2023

Bacterial Cell Culture at the Single-cell Level Inside Giant Vesicles
07:33

Bacterial Cell Culture at the Single-cell Level Inside Giant Vesicles

Published on: April 30, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues
09:57

Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues

Published on: October 17, 2022

Tracking miRNA Release into Extracellular Vesicles using Flow Cytometry
07:29

Tracking miRNA Release into Extracellular Vesicles using Flow Cytometry

Published on: October 6, 2023

Bacterial Cell Culture at the Single-cell Level Inside Giant Vesicles
07:33

Bacterial Cell Culture at the Single-cell Level Inside Giant Vesicles

Published on: April 30, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells release extracellular vesicles.
  • Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) function as multi-purpose carriers, delivering signals, toxins, and genetic material.
  • Eukaryotic microparticles and exosomes also serve as versatile carriers with diverse molecular cargo.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the functions of extracellular vesicles released by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  • To highlight the roles of cell-derived microparticles and exosomes in disease progression, with a focus on cancer.
  • To discuss the clinical applications of microparticles and exosomes in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of vesicle functions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  • Review of current knowledge on microparticles and exosomes in disease.
  • Focus on cancer as a model system for vesicle roles and applications.

Main Results:

  • Vesicles from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes act as "multi-purpose carriers."
  • Bacterial OMVs mediate intercellular signaling, toxin delivery, and horizontal gene transfer.
  • Eukaryotic microparticles and exosomes carry signaling molecules, waste products, and genetic information.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding prokaryotic vesicle function provides insights into eukaryotic vesicle roles.
  • Cell-derived microparticles and exosomes are integral to disease processes, especially cancer.
  • Significant potential exists for clinical applications of microparticles and exosomes in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.