bims-migras 2026-02-15 papers

Issue of 2026–02–15
three papers selected by
Cliff Dominy

Biomark Res. 2026 Feb 12.

Migrasomes: a journey from biogenesis to multifaceted roles in health and disease.

Yuqing Zhao, Shijing Tang, Jingying Zhou, Yang Luo, Liang Duan.

Migrasomes are newly identified extracellular organelles that form on the retraction fibers of migrating cells. Characterized by their pomegranate-like, membrane-bound structure, they encapsulate diverse molecular cargo, including proteins, lipids, RNA, and even damaged mitochondria. The biogenesis of migrasomes is a highly regulated, multi-stage process that depends on cell migration and requires an interplay between specific molecules and membrane mechanical stresses. Functionally, migrasomes play pivotal roles in intercellular communication by mediating the spatial transfer of signals and components. This review provides an overview of migrasome biology, covering their biogenesis mechanisms, distinctions from other types of vesicles, and their dual roles in physiology and pathology. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of migrasomes in disease diagnosis and therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Biomarker; Disease; Extracellular vesicles; Migrasomes

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40364-026-00904-4

MicroPubl Biol. 2026 ;2026

Discovery of Widespread Migrasome Formation During Amoeboid Migration in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Bridget K Plude, Cynthia K Damer.

Migrasomes are organelles that form along retraction fibers of migrating cells and mediate intercellular communication. We performed localization studies on the calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, copine E (CpnE), in Dictyostelium discoideum . We observed GFP-CpnE labeled retraction fibers and migrasomes in multiple contexts: chemotaxis toward folate, random migration, and early development. Migrasome membranes were stained with WGA and some migrasomes were stained with SYTO RNASelect, indicating the presence of RNA. Our findings suggest that CpnE may have a role in migrasome formation and indicate that migrasomes may play important roles in Dictyostelium development, cell communication, and/or homeostasis in a variety of environments.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.001935

Nat Chem Biol. 2026 Feb 13.

Adhesion GPCR-induced ectocytosis mediates intercellular GPCR signal propagation.

Guobing Huang, Ni Li, Yiyang Chen, Xingrun Li, X Z Shawn Xu, Chanjuan Xu, Jianfeng Liu.

Cell-cell communications involve signal transmission from sending cells to receiving cells expressing specific receptors. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate this process by transporting diverse biomolecules. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are canonical membrane receptors that integrate various extracellular signals into intracellular responses. However, whether and how GPCRs engage in EV-mediated communications remain elusive. Here, we report that adhesion GPCRs (aGPCRs) induce the formation of migrasomes and retractosomes, two newly identified EV subtypes, through their extracellular adhesion-like domains and G12/13-protein signaling. Remarkably, activated receptors undergo ectocytosis into these EVs and are subsequently internalized by receiving cells, eliciting de novo G-protein activation. We further demonstrate that cancer-cell-derived migrasomes transfer aGPCRs such as GPR56 to endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby enhancing angiogenic potential. Together, our findings uncover that aGPCRs promote migrasome formation and provide a novel mechanism of cell-cell communications through EV-mediated intercellular spread of active GPCRs.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-026-02148-7