Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
10:07
High-throughput Measurement of Plasma Membrane Resealing Efficiency in Mammalian Cells
Published on: January 7, 2019
Blebbing confers resistance against cell lysis.
E B Babiychuk1, K Monastyrskaya, S Potez
1Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland. edik@ana.unibe.ch
Cell Death and Differentiation
|July 3, 2010
Summary
Cell injury triggers blebbing, forming compartments that seal damaged plasma membranes. Annexin A1 protein plugs these blebs, preventing cell death and offering therapeutic targets for pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Membrane dynamics
- Cellular injury response
Background:
- The plasma membrane is crucial for cellular integrity, separating the internal environment from the external.
- Plasmalemmal injury is a frequent cellular event, often leading to necrotic cell death.
- Blebbing, or the formation of plasma membrane protrusions, is a hallmark of injured cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of blebbing in cellular response to plasma membrane injury.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which blebbing contributes to cell survival after injury.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for preventing necrotic cell death.
Main Methods:
- Observation of cellular blebbing in response to plasmalemmal injury.
- Analysis of the role of annexin A1 in sealing blebs.
- Investigating the formation of intracellular compartments from blebs.
Main Results:
- Blebbing was found to provide resistance against plasma membrane injury.
- Blebs act as precursors to intracellular compartments that sequester damaged membrane sections.
- Annexin A1 forms plugs that seal off blebs, confining cytosol loss and extracellular influx.
Conclusions:
- Blebbing is a protective mechanism that enhances cell survival following plasma membrane damage.
- Annexin A1 plays a critical role in sealing blebs and preserving cellular integrity.
- Targeting annexin A1 and the blebbing process may offer new therapeutic strategies for human pathologies involving cell death.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
01:23Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...