November 2020 Newsletter Investigating Exosomes - Tools and Implications

Schematic of exosome biogenesis, degradation, and secretion. Exosomes are produced from invaginations of late endosomes and reside within multivesicular bodies until entrance into degradation or secretion pathways.

In eukaryotic cells the plasma membrane acts as an intercellular communication hub. In addition to the classic direct contact mechanisms of cell  communication  such as gap junctions, cell surface-protein interactions, and secreted peptides or hormones, cells are also known to communicate via reception of lipid encapsulated cellular biomolecules known as extracellular vesicles (EVs)1–3.  As the study of EVs has grown, so too has the delineation between the types of EVs. Apoptotic bodies are 500-2000 nm EVs that have bud off the membrane of apoptotic cells and are typically removed via macrophage phagocytosis. The 50-1000 nm microvesicles are smaller buds off the plasma membrane that deliver biological cargo to neighboring cells. Exosomes are 30-100 nm EVs that contain active biomolecule cargo but are distinguished from microvesicles based on their biogenesis.

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Also included in this newsletter:

  • MemGlow live cell membrane probes, BG-SPY substrates, Tubulin Kits, Actin Biochem Kits
  • Related Publications

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