ABSTRACT
Recently, a new mechanism of cell-to-cell communication was
proposed when thin tubular connections between membrane-
enclosing compartments were discovered (Fig. 17.1). The basic
research was first performed on liposomes where membranous
tubes of thickness below a micrometre are commonly formed,
especially if a mechanical or a chemical disturbance is introduced
into the liposome system (Kralj-Iglicˇ et al., 2001a; Kralj-Iglicˇ, 2002;
Mathivet et al., 1996). Such lipid bilayer nanotubes may connect two
or more liposomes (Karlsson et al., 2001). It was observed (Iglicˇ
et al., 2003) that a dilatation of the tube forming a gondola may exist
and travel along the tube (Fig. 17.2).
