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

Types of Membrane Protrusions01:28

Types of Membrane Protrusions

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.
The microvilli, an example of stable protrusions, are finger-like projections with a...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Deciphering intercellular communication in the cerebellar external granule layer: Insights into non-classical connections in neural development.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Natural history and clinical characteristics of pulmonary subsolid nodules in pediatric patients: a cohort study.

Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery·2026
Same author

Quantum dots and cationic carrier-reinforced electromembrane extraction of typical illegal dyes in fish samples followed by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

Journal of the science of food and agriculture·2026
Same author

Long-range electronic interactions of tubular single-atom Cu-N<sub>3</sub> catalysts for nanoconfined direct electron transfer oxidation.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

α-Synuclein aggregates induce mitochondrial damage and trigger innate immunity to drive neuron-microglia communication.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Navigating diagnostic dilemmas toward precision therapy: a case report and literature review on gastric metastasis from breast cancer.

Frontiers in oncology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy
05:50

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

Regulation and function of specialized membrane protrusions in intercellular communication.

Shiyu Liu1,2, Christina A Daly3, Stacey K Ogden4

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

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|June 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Cells form specialized connections like tunnelling nanotubes and cytonemes for long-range communication. These structures are crucial for development and immunity, and their dysfunction contributes to disease.

More Related Videos

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions
06:37

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions

Published on: June 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy
05:50

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions
06:37

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions

Published on: June 16, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Cells utilize specialized membrane extensions for intercellular communication, organelle, and signal exchange.
  • Tunnelling nanotubes, cytonemes, and migrasomes are key structures facilitating long-range cellular coordination.
  • These dynamic connections play vital roles in development, immune responses, and disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding the formation, regulation, and specificity of cellular membrane extensions.
  • To emphasize the common principles governing the architecture and cargo transfer of tunnelling nanotubes and cytonemes.
  • To explore the pathological implications of dysregulated cellular communication structures.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on cellular membrane extensions.
  • Analysis of formation and regulation mechanisms.
  • Comparative study of tunnelling nanotubes and cytonemes.

Main Results:

  • Cellular membrane extensions are more prevalent and functionally diverse than previously recognized.
  • Common principles underlie the architecture and cargo transfer of these dynamic connections.
  • Dysregulation of these structures is linked to various pathologies.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular membrane extensions are critical for coordinating cellular behavior across tissues.
  • Understanding these structures is essential for advancing tissue organization models.
  • Further research into these connections can reveal new therapeutic targets for diseases.