Physical Principles of Membrane Shape Regulation by the Glycocalyx

Overview

Journal Cell

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2019 May 7

PMID 31056282

Citations 114

Authors

Carolyn R Shurer

Joe Chin-Hun Kuo

LaDeidra Monet Roberts

Jay G Gandhi

Marshall J Colville

Thais A Enoki

Hao Pan

Jin Su

Jade M Noble

Michael J Hollander

John P ODonnell

Rose Yin

Kayvon Pedram

Leonhard Mockl

Lena F Kourkoutis

W E Moerner

Carolyn R Bertozzi

Gerald W Feigenson

Heidi L Reesink

Matthew J Paszek

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cells bend their plasma membranes into highly curved forms to interact with the local environment, but how shape generation is regulated is not fully resolved. Here, we report a synergy between shape-generating processes in the cell interior and the external organization and composition of the cell-surface glycocalyx. Mucin biopolymers and long-chain polysaccharides within the glycocalyx can generate entropic forces that favor or disfavor the projection of spherical and finger-like extensions from the cell surface. A polymer brush model of the glycocalyx successfully predicts the effects of polymer size and cell-surface density on membrane morphologies. Specific glycocalyx compositions can also induce plasma membrane instabilities to generate more exotic undulating and pearled membrane structures and drive secretion of extracellular vesicles. Together, our results suggest a fundamental role for the glycocalyx in regulating curved membrane features that serve in communication between cells and with the extracellular matrix.

Citing Articles

Bio-orthogonal Glycan Imaging of Cultured Cells and Whole Animal with Expansion Microscopy.

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Glycocalyx dysregulation impairs blood-brain barrier in ageing and disease.

Shi S, Suh R, Shon D, Garcia F, Buff J, Atkins M Nature. 2025; .

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Biophysical modeling of membrane curvature generation and curvature sensing by the glycocalyx.

Xiao K, Park S, Stachowiak J, Rangamani P Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025; 122(8):e2418357122.

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Live imaging of the extracellular matrix with a glycan-binding fluorophore.

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