Table 3.

Differences between retractosomes and migrasomes

PropertyRetractosomeMigrasome
Diameter ∼50–250 nm ∼500–3,000 nm 
Morphology String of beads–like Opened pomegranate–like 
Biogenesis Minutes
Along the broken-off RFs
Cholesterol-independent 
Hours
At the junctions or tips of RFs
Cholesterol-dependent 
Cargoes Lack any identifiable internal structures Small vesicles
Damaged mitochondria
mRNA, etc. 
Functions Unknown Delivery of signaling molecules
Maintaining cellular homeostasis
Lateral transfer of materials, etc. 
PropertyRetractosomeMigrasome
Diameter ∼50–250 nm ∼500–3,000 nm 
Morphology String of beads–like Opened pomegranate–like 
Biogenesis Minutes
Along the broken-off RFs
Cholesterol-independent 
Hours
At the junctions or tips of RFs
Cholesterol-dependent 
Cargoes Lack any identifiable internal structures Small vesicles
Damaged mitochondria
mRNA, etc. 
Functions Unknown Delivery of signaling molecules
Maintaining cellular homeostasis
Lateral transfer of materials, etc. 

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