Multivesicular bodies articles from across Nature Portfolio

The molecular mechanism by which exosomes are released from cells is unclear. Here the authors report that a phosphatidylinositide conversion couples the recruitment of the octameric exocyst complex to multivesicular endosomes for exosome secretion.

Oligodendrocytes secrete extracellular vesicles, which deliver cargo to axons where they regulate key cellular processes. In this Review, Krämer-Albers and Werner discuss the mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles promote neuronal health and their potential to be utilized therapeutically.

Odor stimuli are transduced in cilia of olfactory sensory neurons. Here the authors identify an odor stimulus-regulated organelle that specifically stores and releases transduction proteins in the dendrite.

Extracellular vesicles carry proteins and lipids between cells. In a giant step forward for the field, a 2007 study published in Nature Cell Biology showed that secreted vesicles contain genetic material that is active within acceptor cells, reviving interest in extracellular vesicle-based communication in plant and animal biology.

Liang et al. show that mitochondria can be expelled from cells via extracellular vesicles as a route of quality control that is an alternative to lysosomal degradation.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening is a hallmark of cancer aggressiveness. Diverse ECM environments can alter the number and cargo of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Wu et al. now delineate a pathway from ECM stiffness to FAK/PI3K/Akt signalling and Rab8-induced sEV secretion, promoting cancer growth.

The extracellular vesicle (EV) surface corona is emerging as a crucial mediator of EV functions. This Comment discusses the roles and biogenesis of the EV corona, as well as the importance of controls to determine whether a biological effect is attributable to the internal EV cargo or to the corona associated with the EV exofacial surface.