Cell migration orchestrates migrasome formation by shaping retraction fibers

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Changyuan Fan1,2, Xuemeng Shi3,4, Kaikai Zhao5,6

  • 1Unit of Cell Biology and Imaging Study of Pathogen Host Interaction, The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|February 18, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Migrasome formation decreases in turning cells due to fewer retraction fibers. Cell migration speed and persistence, regulated by vimentin, are key factors controlling migrasome production.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

  • Migrasomes are novel vesicle-like structures observed on cellular retraction fibers.
  • Their formation and regulation, particularly concerning cell migration dynamics, remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cell migration patterns (persistence and speed) and migrasome formation.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which cell migration regulates migrasome production.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of migrasome numbers in straight versus turning migrating cells.
  • Assessment of cell morphology, retraction fiber dynamics, and migration speed.
  • Genetic manipulation involving vimentin to study its role in cell migration and migrasome formation.

Main Results:

  • Turning cells exhibit significantly fewer migrasomes compared to persistently migrating cells.
  • Reduced migrasome formation in turning cells is attributed to narrower rear ends and fewer retraction fibers.
  • Cell migration speed positively correlates with migrasome formation, linked to retraction fiber length.
  • Vimentin deficiency impairs cell migration speed and persistence, leading to decreased migrasome numbers.

Conclusions:

  • Cell migration persistence and speed are critical regulators of migrasome formation.
  • These migration parameters control migrasome production by influencing the dynamics and number of retraction fibers.
  • The cytoskeleton, specifically vimentin, plays a crucial role in mediating the observed effects.

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