The Emerging World of Membrane Vesicles: Functional Relevance, Theranostic Avenues and Tools for Investigating Membrane Function.

Aswin T Srivatsav,Shobhna Kapoor

doi:10.3389/fmolb.2021.640355

Aswin T Srivatsav, Shobhna Kapoor

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2021.640355

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Abstract

Lipids are essential components of cell membranes and govern various membrane functions. Lipid organization within membrane plane dictates recruitment of specific proteins and lipids into distinct nanoclusters that initiate cellular signaling while modulating protein and lipid functions. In addition, one of the most versatile function of lipids is the formation of diverse lipid membrane vesicles for regulating various cellular processes including intracellular trafficking of molecular cargo. In this review, we focus on the various kinds of membrane vesicles in eukaryotes and bacteria, their biogenesis, and their multifaceted functional roles in cellular communication, host-pathogen interactions and biotechnological applications. We elaborate on how their distinct lipid composition of membrane vesicles compared to parent cells enables early and non-invasive diagnosis of cancer and tuberculosis, while inspiring vaccine development and drug delivery platforms. Finally, we discuss the use of membrane vesicles as excellent tools for investigating membrane lateral organization and protein sorting, which is otherwise challenging but extremely crucial for normal cellular functioning. We present current limitations in this field and how the same could be addressed to propel a fundamental and technology-oriented future for extracellular membrane vesicles.

Highlights

Lipids are fundamental components of the plasma membrane across various living forms and other cellular compartments such as nuclear membranes, Golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum
Lipids have held a secondary place-next to proteins-in both basic and applied research attributed to the lack of techniques for their isolation, visualization, manipulation and quantitation
Much we know about lipids and some of their presumed biological functions have come from the study of synthetic membranes with specific lipid composition due to the inability to study lipids in native environment

Summary

Introduction

Lipids are fundamental components of the plasma membrane across various living forms and other cellular compartments such as nuclear membranes, Golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum. Collective exosome lipidomic analysis from various groups across various cell types has revealed selective enrichment of certain lipid species (Figures 2A,B). Compared to Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria have a distinct cell wall structure, and their MVs have been shown to be enriched in polar lipids such as PE, PG and diacylated phosphatidylinositol dimannoside (Ac2 PIM2); absence of mycolic acid ester implies the inner membrane to be the major site for MV origin (PradosRosales et al, 2011; Chowdhury and Jagannadham, 2013).

Results

Conclusion