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The protrusion of the cell surface is an initial step for several cellular processes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, and neurite outgrowth. These membrane protrusions are a result of cytoskeletal rearrangement. The most  widely observed cell protrusions include lamellipodia, pseudopodia, filopodia, microvilli, invadopodia, and podosomes. These protrusions can be of two types — static or dynamic.
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Actin-based protrusions at a glance.

Sevan Belian1,2, Olga Korenkova1,2, Chiara Zurzolo1

  • 1Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3691, Membrane Traffic and Pathogenesis, F-75015 Paris, France.

Journal of Cell Science
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Cellular actin protrusions like filopodia, cytonemes, and tunneling nanotubes are vital for cell functions. This review clarifies their distinct structures and functions for better classification.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeleton Dynamics
  • Cellular Communication

Background:

  • Actin-based protrusions are crucial for fundamental cellular processes including adhesion, migration, and communication.
  • The discovery of novel actin protrusion types necessitates a clearer classification system beyond functional categorization.
  • Existing nomenclature struggles to differentiate protrusions based on structural, compositional, or formation mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a clear distinction between different types of actin-based protrusions.
  • To categorize filopodia, cytonemes, and tunneling nanotubes based on structural and functional characteristics.
  • To enhance the understanding and classification of cellular protrusions.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of structural and functional properties of actin protrusions.
  • Review of existing literature on filopodia, cytonemes, and tunneling nanotubes.
  • Discussion of classification criteria for cellular protrusions.

Main Results:

  • Filopodia, cytonemes, and tunneling nanotubes exhibit distinct structural and functional differences.
  • Key distinctions lie in their formation mechanisms, composition, and roles in cellular processes.
  • A framework for differentiating these protrusions based on morphology and function is presented.

Conclusions:

  • A refined classification of actin protrusions is essential for advancing cell biology research.
  • Understanding the specific attributes of filopodia, cytonemes, and tunneling nanotubes aids in interpreting cellular mechanisms.
  • This work provides a basis for future research into the diverse roles of actin-based structures.