PDZ networking in the biology of extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, emerge as organelles governing cell to cell communication.They transport complex information including proteins, lipids and nucleic acids and can reprogramrecipient cells. They participate in the regulation of multiple physio-pathological processes. Yet, themolecular machines governing their production, heterogeneity and activity remain obscure. PDZscaffold proteins organize processes ranging from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and co-evolvedwith multicellularity. Pioneer work and recent findings of our laboratory indicate a role for PDZnetworks in dictating the composition and recapture of extracellular vesicles. Here we propose toanalyze by gain and loss-of-function studies how PDZ webs impact on extracellular vesicle formation,heterogeneity, composition, targeting efficiency and functional effects on recipient cells. We thereby aimfor a better understanding of cell communication and rationale for molecular medicine.

Keywords:exosomes, membrane trafficking, PDZ, syndecans, cell biology

Disciplines:Molecular and cell biology not elsewhere classified