Researchers at the University of Exeter, U.K., have discovered intricate mechanisms of ligand–receptor complex transport via specialized protrusions transporting signaling components between cells, challenging the conventional understanding of cell responsiveness solely based on receptor expression.
A Research Briefing published in the same journal issue summarizes the word done by Chengting Zhang and colleagues.
Cellular communication in embryonic development primarily occurs through chemical signaling, where ligands released by signal-producing cells interact with receptors on target cells. In the zebrafish embryo, Wnt5b binds to the receptor Ror2 to trigger the Wnt–planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway to regulate tissue polarity and cell migration.
Through fluorescent tagging, the researchers found evidence indicating that Wnt5b and Ror2 form active complexes in producing cells and are transferred via cytonemes to neighboring cells. Cytonemes are tubular or tubulovesicular cellular filopodia structures involved in several cellular functions. They act as a sort of probe or transport corridor, extending beyond the cell edge to interact with other cells.
The cytoneme-transported complexes maintained their functionality, activating Wnt–PCP signaling in receiving cells, even if they lack functional Ror2 receptors. The findings challenge the conventional view of tissue responsiveness based solely on receptor expression, introducing cytoneme-mediated transfer of signaling complexes between cells as a newly discovered method of intercellular communication.
2023-12-27 17:00:04
Link from phys.org rnrn
