Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
12:13
Single-Molecule Imaging of Nuclear Transport
Published on: June 9, 2010
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Extracellular membrane particles en route to the nucleus - exploring the VOR complex
Aurelio Lorico1, Mark F Santos1, Jana Karbanová2,3
1Department of Basic Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University Nevada, Henderson, NV 89014, U.S.A.
Biochemical Society Transactions
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) communicate between cells, but how they work inside is unclear. We found EVs can deliver cargo to the cell nucleus via a novel pathway, offering new therapeutic targets for diseases like cancer.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Intercellular communication is vital for multicellular organisms.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators of this communication.
- While EV release and uptake are understood, their intracellular actions remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intracellular fate and mechanisms of extracellular vesicles (EVs) after cellular uptake.
- To identify novel pathways for EV cargo delivery within cells.
- To explore potential clinical applications targeting EV pathways.
Main Methods:
- Focus on EV heterogeneity, release, and uptake pathways.
- Investigated a novel intracellular pathway for EV cargo nuclear transfer.
- Utilized the VOR (VAP-A-ORP3-Rab7) complex for late endosome docking to the nuclear membrane.
Main Results:
- A fraction of endocytosed EVs reaches the nuclear compartment.
- The VOR complex mediates docking of late endosomes to the outer nuclear membrane.
- EV cargoes are transferred into the nucleoplasm via nuclear pores.
Conclusions:
- A novel pathway facilitates the nuclear transfer of EV cargoes.
- This pathway involves the VOR complex and nuclear pore translocation.
- Targeting this pathway could offer new therapeutic strategies for EV-implicated diseases.
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