Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
08:06
Study of Phagolysosome Biogenesis in Live Macrophages
Published on: March 10, 2014
14.8K
Phagosomal transport depends strongly on phagosome size
S Keller1, K Berghoff2, H Kress2
1Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany. steve.keller@uni-bayreuth.de.
Scientific Reports
|December 8, 2017
Summary
Phagosome size dictates transport dynamics within macrophages. Large phagosomes move towards the nucleus, driven by dynein motors, while small ones exhibit bidirectional movement, utilizing actin filaments.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Molecular Motors
Background:
- Macrophages engulf pathogens for degradation via phagosomes.
- Phagosomal transport to the cell nucleus is crucial for this process.
- Biochemical factors influence phagosome trafficking, but physical properties are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of phagosome size on intracellular transport dynamics.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying size-dependent phagosome motility.
- To explore potential implications for macrophage function in immunity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized live-cell imaging to track phagosome movement in macrophages.
- Analyzed transport patterns of phagosomes of varying sizes.
- Investigated the roles of dynein motors and actin filaments in phagosome motility.
- Examined the spatial distribution of microtubules and dyneins around phagosomes.
Main Results:
- Phagosome size significantly influences transport directionality and persistence.
- Large phagosomes exhibit persistent, nucleus-directed transport.
- Small phagosomes display bidirectional movement.
- Dynein motors are more critical for large phagosome transport, while actin drives small phagosome motility.
Conclusions:
- Phagosome size is a key determinant of intracellular transport mechanisms.
- A size-dependent cellular sorting mechanism may optimize macrophage immunological roles.
- Differential motor protein engagement and cytoskeletal interactions underlie observed transport differences.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:41Phagocytosis
93.3K
Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects—such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
93.3K
00:41Phagocytosis
8.2K
Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis ("cellular eating") is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects, such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells,...
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells,...
8.2K
01:36Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
10.3K
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
10.3K
01:12Clathrin Coated Vesicles
9.5K
Clathrin-coated vesicles use endocytosis to transport receptors and lysosomal hydrolases from the Golgi to the lysosome in the late secretory pathway. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis was the first described endocytic process, and Clathrin-coated vesicles remain one of the most well-studied transport vesicles. The molecular machinery that generates clathrin-coated vesicles comprises over 50 proteins that precisely coordinate vesicle formation. Cell surface receptors concentrated in indented sites...
9.5K
01:26Transport Across the Golgi
6.3K
While it is unclear how molecules move between adjacent Golgi cisternae, it is apparent that the molecules move from cis- cisterna, the entry face, to the trans- cisterna, the exit face. Experiments initially suggested vesicles that bud from one cisterna and fuse with the next cisterna to transport proteins between the cisternae. This vesicular transport model describes the Golgi apparatus as a relatively static structure with a unique enzyme composition in each cisterna. Molecules are...
6.3K
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
6.7K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
6.7K