Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
08:17
A Proximal Culture Method to Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells
Published on: August 28, 2018
Prostasomes are mediators of intercellular communication: from basic research to clinical implications.
1Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. gunnar.ronquist@akademiska.se
Journal of Internal Medicine
|November 25, 2011
Summary
Prostasomes, secreted by prostate cells, are microvesicles crucial for sperm fertilization. These vesicles also play a role in prostate cancer growth and proliferation, offering potential diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Prostasomes are nanosized microvesicles originating from prostate acinar epithelial cells.
- They function as intercellular communicators, transferring components to spermatozoa and influencing fertilization.
- Prostasomes are also found in malignant prostate cells, suggesting a role in cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological effects of prostasomes relevant to successful fertilization.
- To explore the role of prostasomes in prostate cancer cell growth and proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on prostasomes.
- Analysis of prostasome composition and function in reproduction and cancer.
Main Results:
- Prostasomes transfer bioactive molecules and genetic material, enhancing sperm fertilizing ability.
- Prostate cancer cells release prostasomes, implicating them in tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- Prostasomes are key mediators in sperm function and fertilization.
- Prostasome release by cancer cells highlights their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for prostate cancer.
More Related Videos
11:15A Preclinical Mouse Model of Osteosarcoma to Define the Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication Between Tumor and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Published on: May 6, 2018
05:44Isolation of Proximal Fluids to Investigate the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Published on: November 5, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:13The Proteasome
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important among these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
02:18The Proteasome
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important amongst these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
02:04Protein-protein Interfaces
Many proteins form complexes to carry out their functions, making protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential for an organism's survival. Most PPIs are stabilized by numerous weak noncovalent chemical forces. The physical shape of the interfaces determines the way two proteins interact. Many globular proteins have closely-matching shapes on their surfaces, which form a large number of weak bonds. Additionally, many PPIs occur between two helices or between a surface cleft and a polypeptide...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:36Overview of Exosomes
Exosomes are stable, lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles capable of crossing biological barriers. They can carry a wide range of molecules required for intercellular communication. Once exosomes are released from the cell where they originated, they enter a recipient cell through various pathways such as fusion, receptor-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis, and phagocytosis.
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
01:33Proteomics
A proteome is the entire set of proteins that a cell type produces. We can study proteomes using the knowledge of genomes because genes code for mRNAs, and the mRNAs encode proteins. Although mRNA analysis is a step in the right direction, not all mRNAs are translated into proteins.
Proteomics is the study of proteomes' function. It involves the large-scale systematic study of the proteome to denote the protein complement expressed by a genome. Scientist Mark Wilkins coined the term proteomics...
Proteomics is the study of proteomes' function. It involves the large-scale systematic study of the proteome to denote the protein complement expressed by a genome. Scientist Mark Wilkins coined the term proteomics...