Podosomes revealed by advanced bioimaging: What did we learn?

• Published in: European journal of cell biology Vol. 93; no. 10-12; pp. 380 - 387
• Main Authors: Meddens, Marjolein B.M., van den Dries, Koen, Cambi, Alessandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Actin fibers; Animals; Cell migration; Cell Surface Extensions - metabolism; Cell Surface Extensions - ultrastructure; Cytoskeleton; Humans; Microscopy, Fluorescence - methods; Molecular Imaging - methods; Podosomes; Super-resolution microscopy; Super-resolution microscopy; Actin fibers; Cytoskeleton; Podosomes; Cell migration
• ISSN: 0171-9335; 1618-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2014.09.002

Podosomes are micrometer-sized, circular adhesions formed by cells such as osteoclasts, macrophages, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells. Because of their small size and the lack of methods to visualize individual proteins and protein complexes, podosomes have long been considered a simple two-module structure with a protrusive actin core and a surrounding adhesive ring composed of integrins and cytoskeletal adaptor proteins such as vinculin and talin. In the past decade, the applications of fluorescence based techniques that circumvent the diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy took a major leap forward. Podosomes have been imaged by a variety of these super-resolution methods, and in this concise review we discuss how these super-resolution data have increased our understanding of the podosome ultra-structure and function.