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 Exosomes01:36

Overview of Exosomes

4.0K
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...
4.0K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

4.4K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.4K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

24.9K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.9K
Introduction to Membrane Traffic01:44

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

10.4K
The ER, Golgi apparatus, endosomes, and lysosomes work in tandem to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids. An integrated membrane trafficking network facilitates the back and forth shuttling of molecules within different organelles in the same cell or across the cell membrane.
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
10.4K
The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin01:28

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

5.3K
Essential proteins such as insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micronutrients such as iron enter a eukaryotic cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, the early endosomes fuse with the vesicles containing such receptor-ligand complexes and play a vital role in sorting the incoming ligands and receptors. While the ligands are either degraded inside the vesicle or released into the cytosol, their receptors are returned to the plasma membrane for further rounds of...
5.3K
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport01:45

Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport

23.6K
Eukaryotic cells have different membrane-bound organelles with distinct protein requirements. The process by which proteins are targeted to a specific organelle is called protein sorting.
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation.  In gated transport, folded...
23.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Genome Database: A Global Resource for Genomic Surveillance of Dissemination, Pathogenicity, and Antimicrobial Resistance.

China CDC weekly·2026
Same author

The epidemiology and hypervirulence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> ST23 unveil epidemic risks in China and worldwide.

The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific·2025
Same author

Synaptotagmin-7 deficit causes insulin hypoactivity and contributes to behavioral alterations in mice.

iScience·2025
Same author

A secure visualization platform for pathogenic genome analysis with an accurate reference database.

Biosafety and health·2025
Same author

Piperine promotes PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated gut-brain autophagy to degrade α-Synuclein in Parkinson's disease rats.

Journal of ethnopharmacology·2023
Same author

gcPathogen: a comprehensive genomic resource of human pathogens for public health.

Nucleic acids research·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression
07:29

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression

Published on: October 6, 2023

2.1K

Exosome and exosomal microRNA: trafficking, sorting, and function.

Jian Zhang1, Sha Li1, Lu Li2

  • 1Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.

Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics
|March 1, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Exosomes, tiny vesicles carrying microRNAs (miRNAs), are crucial intercellular communicators. Their distinct miRNA profiles and roles in disease progression highlight their potential in clinical applications.

Keywords:
Cell-to-cell communicationCirculating microRNAExosomeExtracellular microRNASorting

More Related Videos

Purification and microRNA Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Blood and Culture Media
10:45

Purification and microRNA Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Blood and Culture Media

Published on: June 14, 2013

32.5K
Isolation and Profiling of MicroRNA-containing Exosomes from Human Bile
06:59

Isolation and Profiling of MicroRNA-containing Exosomes from Human Bile

Published on: June 13, 2016

11.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression
07:29

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression

Published on: October 6, 2023

2.1K
Purification and microRNA Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Blood and Culture Media
10:45

Purification and microRNA Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Blood and Culture Media

Published on: June 14, 2013

32.5K
Isolation and Profiling of MicroRNA-containing Exosomes from Human Bile
06:59

Isolation and Profiling of MicroRNA-containing Exosomes from Human Bile

Published on: June 13, 2016

11.0K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles (40-100 nm) secreted by various cell types.
  • These vesicles are prevalent in bodily fluids and contain functional molecules like mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs).
  • Exosomal miRNAs can be transferred to recipient cells, influencing their function and suggesting active sorting mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the origin, trafficking, and sorting mechanisms of exosomal miRNAs.
  • To elucidate the functional roles of exosomes and their miRNAs in recipient cells.
  • To discuss the clinical potential of miRNA-containing exosomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of exosome biogenesis and function.
  • Analysis of studies on exosomal miRNA sorting and cargo selection.
  • Synthesis of research on exosome-mediated intercellular communication.
  • Exploration of current and future clinical applications of exosomes.

Main Results:

  • Exosomes facilitate intercellular communication through the transfer of miRNAs.
  • Evidence suggests active sorting of specific miRNAs into exosomes, leading to distinct profiles compared to parent cells.
  • Exosomal miRNAs are implicated in disease progression, including cancer, by promoting angiogenesis and metastasis.
  • Exosomes and their miRNA cargo offer potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents.

Conclusions:

  • Exosomes represent a significant mode of intercellular communication, particularly through their miRNA content.
  • Understanding exosomal miRNA sorting mechanisms is key to deciphering their biological roles.
  • Exosomes hold promise for clinical applications in diagnostics and therapeutics due to their involvement in disease.