Premium
Intercellular Connections Related to Cell–Cell Crosstalk Specifically Recognized by an Aptamer
Author(s) -
Zhang Nan,
Bing Tao,
Shen Luyao,
Song Rusheng,
Wang Linlin,
Liu Xiangjun,
Liu Meirong,
Li Juan,
Tan Weihong,
Shangguan Dihua
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201510786
Subject(s) - aptamer , crosstalk , intracellular , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell signaling , biology , chemistry , signal transduction , nanotechnology , genetics , materials science , physics , optics
Intercellular connections are an important pathway for cell–cell crosstalk. However, their formation mechanism and functions are far from being understood. The lack of molecular probes hampers the research in this area. Herein, we report a kind of intercellular connection that is specifically recognized by aptamer M17A2 generated by cell‐SELEX against MCF‐7R cells. These connections have different morphologies, but have the same skeleton composed of F‐actin. The long filamentous connections were identified to be tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), a recently discovered cell–cell communication route. These connections could be built not only between MCF‐7R cells, but also from MCF‐7R to other cells after co‐culture. Proteins could be transported between cells through these connections, suggesting their cell communication function. Aptamer M17A2 shows the potential to act as a new probe for investigating this kind of intercellular connection, as well as for studying cell–cell communication.