Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous, rounded vesicles released by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in their normal and pathophysiological states. These vesicles form a network of intercellular communication as they can transfer cell- and function-specific information (lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) to different cells and thus alter their function. Fungi are not an exception; they also release EVs to the extracellular space. The vesicles can also be retained in the periplasm as periplasmic vesicles (PVs) and the cell wall. Such fungal vesicles play various specific roles in the lives of these organisms. They are involved in creating wall architecture and maintaining its integrity, supporting cell isolation and defence against the environment. In the case of pathogenic strains, they might take part in the interactions with the host and affect the infection outcomes. The economic importance of fungi in manufacturing high-quality nutritional and pharmaceutical products and in remediation is considerable. The analysis of fungal EVs opens new horizons for diagnosing fungal infections and developing vaccines against mycoses and novel applications of nanotherapy and sensors in industrial processes.
Highlights
Exosomes Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
The GXM has been detected in the lumen of the vesicles found in the extracellular space and those attached to the cell wall
The yeasts have been widely used as the eukaryotic model because their cellular activities and mechanisms are common or closely related to the organisms placed higher on the evolutionary ladder
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures released by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells during normal physiological functioning, whose secretion is altered in pathophysiological states. The first type, exosomes, range from ~40 to 160 nm in diameter and are of endosomal origin They are formed by the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the plasma membrane. The EVs can carry many different macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids (both RNA and DNA), carbohydrates and metabolites that can act as signals [1] The vesicles transport such macromolecules across biological barriers to the neighbouring and remote cells in specific organs or tissues via circulatory systems (blood, lymph). They can affect the function of recipient cells in multicellular organisms. The size, membrane composition and content of EVs are highly heterogeneous They are dynamic and strongly dependent on the source cell, cell topography, state and environmental conditions. Their functionality and the still unanswered questions are presented, including the cellular origin and biogenesis of EVs, transit mechanisms through the fungal cell wall and the importance and packaging of the cargo
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