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

Transcellular Transport of Solutes01:23

Transcellular Transport of Solutes

3.5K
Transcellular transport of solutes is the movement of substances like monosaccharides and amino acids through polarized cells. This transport mechanism is primarily seen in epithelial and endothelial cells aided by membrane transport proteins such as channels and transporters. The tight junctions between these cells confine the membrane proteins to the two sides of the cell. The epithelial cells have distinct apical and basolateral domains. In contrast, the endothelial cells show the luminal...
3.5K
Introduction to Membrane Traffic01:44

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

7.0K
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...
7.0K
Cellular Membranes and Drug Transport01:24

Cellular Membranes and Drug Transport

370
Drugs must traverse multiple biological barriers, such as multi-layered skin, single-layered intestinal epithelium, and the plasma membrane, to reach their target sites within the body. The plasma membrane, a highly structured composite of phospholipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, is the cell's protective boundary, facilitating selective substance exchange.
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer, with hydrophilic heads oriented outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.
370
Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport01:23

Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport

476
Drugs need to permeate cell membranes to reach their target sites after administration. Orally administered drugs must transcend intestinal epithelial membrane barriers to infiltrate the systemic circulation. Drugs with a molecular weight of less than 500 Daltons diffuse through gaps between neighboring cells, called paracellular pathways.
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
476
Facilitated Diffusion01:16

Facilitated Diffusion

349
The plasma membrane, a critical structure in cellular biology, houses an array of transporters, or carrier proteins, interspersed within its lipid bilayer. These proteins play a crucial role in solute transport through facilitated diffusion, a form of passive diffusion that uses transporters to move the molecules across the membrane.
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...
349
The Significance of Membrane Transport01:44

The Significance of Membrane Transport

24.3K
The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
24.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Wavelength-Specific UV-C Inactivation of Viruses in Liquids: Dose-Response, Mechanistic Insights, and Structural Integrity-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Viruses·2026
Same author

Cooperation of Various Cytoskeletal Components Orchestrates Intercellular Spread of Mitochondria between B-Lymphoma Cells through Tunnelling Nanotubes.

Cells·2024
Same author

Changes of Ex Vivo Cervical Epithelial Cells Due to Electroporation with JMY.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023
Same author

Molecular Relay Stations in Membrane Nanotubes: IRSp53 Involved in Actin-Based Force Generation.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023
Same author

The p53 and Calcium Regulated Actin Rearrangement in Model Cells.

International journal of molecular sciences·2022
Same author

Regional Variation of Gap Junctional Connections in the Mammalian Inner Retina.

Cells·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
18:57

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers

Published on: October 17, 2013

46.3K

Intercellular Highways in Transport Processes.

Edina Szabó-Meleg1

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. edina.meleg@aok.pte.hu.

Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation
|September 6, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Tunnelling membrane nanotubes (TNTs) are vital cell extensions enabling direct communication. These diverse structures transport cellular materials and play roles in regeneration, immunity, and diseases like neurodegeneration and cancer.

Keywords:
Cell communicationCytoskeletonMembrane nanotubeNeurodegenerative diseaseTransport

More Related Videos

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

11.9K
Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes
00:07

Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes

Published on: August 28, 2019

7.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
18:57

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers

Published on: October 17, 2013

46.3K
Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

11.9K
Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes
00:07

Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes

Published on: August 28, 2019

7.8K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell-to-cell communication is essential for multicellular organisms.
  • Tunnelling membrane nanotubes (TNTs), discovered in 2004, are actin-rich cellular extensions facilitating direct cell-to-cell transfer of materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the diverse structures, functions, and biological roles of TNTs.
  • To highlight the significance of TNTs in various physiological and pathological processes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TNTs.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies investigating TNT formation and function.

Main Results:

  • TNTs exhibit diverse morphology and are crucial for transporting membrane components, organelles, and nucleic acids.
  • TNTs are implicated in the spread of pathogens (bacteria, viruses) and misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Evidence supports TNT involvement in cell differentiation, tissue regeneration, immune responses, and tumorigenesis.

Conclusions:

  • TNTs represent a significant mode of intercellular communication with broad biological implications.
  • Further research into TNTs can offer insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.