Modeling Prion Transport in a Tunneling Nanotube

Abstract

We develop a model for simulating prion transport in a tunneling nanotube (TNT). We simulate the situation when two cells, one of which is infected, are connected by a TNT. We consider two mechanisms of prion transport: lateral diffusion in the TNT membrane and active actin-dependent transport inside endocytic vesicles. Endocytic vesicles are propelled by myosin Va molecular motors. Since the transit time of prions through a TNT is short (several minutes), the two population model developed here assumes that there is no interchange between the two prion populations, and that partitioning between the prion populations is decided by prion loading at the TNT entrance. The split between the two prion populations at the TNT entrance is decided by the degree of loading, which indicates the portion of prions that enter a TNT in endocytic vesicles. An analytical solution describing prion concentrations and fluxes is obtained.