Je. Italiano et al., Blood platelets are assembled principally at the ends of proplatelet processes produced by differentiated megakaryocytes, J CELL BIOL, 147(6), 1999, pp. 1299-1312
Megakaryocytes release mature platelets in a complex process. Platelets are
known to be released from intermediate structures, designated proplatelets
, which are long, tubelike extensions of the megakaryocyte cytoplasm. We ha
ve resolved the ultrastructure of the megakaryocyte cytoskeleton at specifi
c stages of proplatelet morphogenesis and correlated these structures with
cytoplasmic remodeling events defined by video microscopy. Platelet product
ion begins with the extension of large pseudopodia that use unique cortical
bundles of microtubules to elongate and form thin proplatelet processes wi
th bulbous ends; these contain a peripheral bundle of microtubules that loo
ps upon itself and forms a teardrop-shaped structure. Contrary to prior obs
ervations and assumptions, time-lapse microscopy reveals proplatelet proces
ses to be extremely dynamic structures that interconvert reversibly between
spread and tubular forms. Microtubule coils similar to those observed in b
lood platelets are detected only at the ends of proplatelets and not within
the platelet-sized beads found along the length of proplatelet extensions.
Growth and extension of proplatelet processes is associated with repeated
bending and bifurcation, which results in considerable amplification of fre
e ends. These aspects are inhibited by cytochalasin B and, therefore, are d
ependent on actin. We propose that mature platelets are assembled de novo a
nd released only at the ends of proplatelets, and that the complex bending
and branching observed during proplatelet morphogenesis represents an elega
nt mechanism to increase the numbers of proplatelet ends.