M6a is a four-transmembrane protein that is abundantly expressed in the nervous system. Previous studies have shown that over-expression of this protein induces various cellular protrusions, such as neurites, filopodia, and dendritic spines. In this detailed characterization of M6a-induced structures, we found their varied and peculiar characteristics. Notably, the M6a-induced protrusions were mostly devoid of actin filaments or microtubules and exhibited free random vibrating motion. Moreover, when an antibody bound to M6a, the membrane-wrapped protrusions were suddenly disrupted, leading to perturbation of the surrounding membrane dynamics involving phosphoinositide signaling. During single-molecule analysis, M6a exhibited cytoskeleton-independent movement and became selectively entrapped along the cell perimeter in an actin-independent manner. These observations highlight the unusual characteristics of M6a, which may have a significant yet unappreciated role in biological systems.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230579 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0026702 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
MS4A superfamily molecules in tumors, Alzheimer's and autoimmune diseases.
Front Immunol
December 2024
Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
MS4A (membrane-spanning 4-domain, subfamily A) molecules are categorized into tetraspanins, which possess four-transmembrane structures. To date, eighteen MS4A members have been identified in humans, whereas twenty-three different molecules have been identified in mice. MS4A proteins are selectively expressed on the surfaces of various immune cells, such as B cells (MS4A1), mast cells (MS4A2), macrophages (MS4A4A), Foxp3CD4 regulatory T cells (MS4A4B), and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (TMEM176A and TMEM176B).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of a sorting motif for Tspan3 to MHCII compartments in human B cells.
Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr
February 2025
Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Medical Innovation, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address:
Tetraspanins are four-transmembrane proteins that play fundamental roles in the immune system by enabling processes like migration, proliferation, signaling and protein trafficking. While the importance of cell surface tetraspanins has been established, the function of intracellular tetraspanins is less well understood. Here, we investigated the role of tetraspanin 3 (Tspan3) in lymphocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFframeshift variants impair GABA receptor proteostasis.
bioRxiv
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
The gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAR) is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated ion channel in the central nervous system. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding GABAR subunits can cause receptor dysfunction and lead to genetic epilepsy. Frameshift variants in these genes can result in a premature termination codon, producing truncated receptor subunit variants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular and Functional Analysis of the Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD) Gene in Buffalo: Implications for Milk Fat Synthesis.
Animals (Basel)
November 2024
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
The SCD is a rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in dairy cows; however, its role in the mammary gland of buffalo is not well understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized the complete coding sequence (CDS) of the buffalo gene from mammary gland tissue and investigated its effects on milk fat synthesis using bioinformatics analyses, tissue differential expression detection, and cellular functional experiments. The cloned gene has a CDS length of 1080 bp, encoding a protein of 359 amino acids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Role of Cholesterol in M2 Clustering and Viral Budding Explained.
J Chem Theory Comput
January 2025
Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece.
The influenza A M2 homotetrameric channel consists of four transmembrane (TM) and four amphipathic helices (AHs). This viral proton channel is suggested to form clusters in the catenoid budding neck areas in raft-like domains of the plasma membrane, resulting in cell membrane scission and viral release. The channel clustering environment is rich in cholesterol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!