Dynamics of microvesicle formation driven by glycocalyx

Ke Xiao; Chen-Xu Wu

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arXiv · 2610.03944

Dynamics of microvesicle formation driven by glycocalyx

Ke Xiao·Chen-Xu Wu

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Abstract

Microvesicles (MVs), a type of cell-secreted extracellular vesicle (EV), are essential for various biological processes such as local and long-distance intercellular communication and the disposal of unwanted materials. Recent evidence suggests that overexpression of MUC1 glycoproteins facilitates MV formation on the cell membrane, but the mechanism underlying this nonequilibrium process remains unknown. Here, the kinetics of glycocalyx-driven MV formation is studied in the framework of Onsager's variational principle. Using this deterministic theory, we first show that the process of MV formation is accelerated for the denser and thicker glycocalyx-grafted cell membrane and can be improved by reducing the ionic strength or enhancing the degree of glycocalyx ionization. Intriguingly, we further discover that there exists an optimal glycocalyx coverage for the fastest formation of MVs. We then investigated the process of MV formation using a stochastic approach. Our results suggest that the transition rate is not constant, leading to the prediction of a shorter formation time compared to the deterministic approach. These findings provide valuable insights into the regulation of membrane morphology and MV secretion by the glycocalyx, with implications for both understanding and modulating these processes.

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Ke Xiao, Chen-Xu Wu. 2026-10-02. Dynamics of microvesicle formation driven by glycocalyx. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.03944

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