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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Visualizing Membrane Ruffle Formation using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: May 27, 2021
Macropinosome formation by tent pole ruffling in macrophages
Nicholas D Condon1, John M Heddleston2, Teng-Leong Chew2
1Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and IMB Centre for Inflammation and Disease Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract:
Pathogen-mediated activation of macrophages arms innate immune responses that include enhanced surface ruffling and macropinocytosis for environmental sampling and receptor internalization and signaling. Activation of macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) generates prominent dorsal ruffles, which are precursors for macropinosomes. Very rapid, high-resolution imaging of live macrophages with lattice light sheet microscopy (LLSM) reveals new features and actions of dorsal ruffles, which redefine the process of macropinosome formation and closure. We offer a new model in which ruffles are erected and supported by F-actin tent poles that cross over and twist to constrict the forming macropinosomes. This process allows for formation of large macropinosomes induced by LPS. We further describe the enrichment of active Rab13 on tent pole ruffles and show that CRISPR deletion of Rab13 results in aberrant tent pole ruffles and blocks the formation of large LPS-induced macropinosomes. Based on the exquisite temporal and spatial resolution of LLSM, we can redefine the ruffling and macropinosome processes that underpin innate immune responses.
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