Role of tether formation in regulating the dynamics of platelet translocation.

Membrane tether dynamics regulate the stop-start pattern of platelet translocation at low (150 s⁻¹), intermediate (1800 s⁻¹), and high (5000 s⁻¹) shear rates. Real-time analysis of the displacement (μm) of the cell centroid demonstrates that the formation of membrane tethers (shaded regions) results in a distinct pause in platelet translocation (stop phase), whereas release of tethers is associated with platelet translocation in the direction of flow (start phase) (unshaded regions). Note that each shaded bar at 1800 s⁻¹ and 5000 s⁻¹represents the formation of a new membrane tether.