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Cells' puncture repair kit

Endosomes contain either removed bacterial toxins (left) or damaged membrane (right).

A cell with a torn or perforated membrane has to close the breach fast. To heal wounds inflicted by bacteria, cells rely on endocytosis, Idone et al. show.

An injury or even a workout at the gym can tear the plasma membranes of our cells. Earlier work showed that a wounded cell makes repairs through exocytosis, extruding lysosomes whose membranes help close the rip. But this mechanism alone can't explain how cells heal all injuries. Some bacterial toxins and defensive proteins such as the complement system embed themselves in the membrane, forming a pore that can't be closed by exocytosis. Idone et al. wanted to nail down how cells mend these types of perforations.

The team exposed cells to Streptococcus toxin that bores into the plasma membrane. Repairs were quick—the membranes resealed in less than 30 seconds. Cells wouldn't have time to disassemble the pores in that time, ruling out one possible mechanism. The team also discounted the possibility that injury-induced blebs on the cell membrane somehow dislodge the pores—cells still healed when the team blocked blebbing.

A third possibility is that cells use endocytosis to remove the pores from the membrane. To test the idea, Idone et al. followed labeled pores that were stuck in the membrane. Within a few seconds, endosomes carrying tagged toxin began showing up inside the cells. The results indicate that injury stimulates the formation of endosomes that engulf pores that have penetrated the membrane. The team also discovered that cells use the same method to excise membrane abrasions.

Reference:

Idone, C., et al. 2008. J. Cell Biol. 180:905–914.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Mitch Leslie

mitchleslie{at}comcast.net

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This Article Full Text (PDF, 1209K) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Leslie, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Leslie, M. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?