Phosphatidylserine externalization and membrane blebbing are involved in the nonclassical export of FGF1

The mechanisms of nonclassical export of signal peptide-less proteins remain insufficiently understood. Here we demonstrate that stress-induced unconventional export of FGF1, a potent and ubiquitously expressed mitogenic and proangiogenic protein, is associated with and dependent on the formation of membrane blebs and localized cell surface exposure of phosphatidylserine. In addition, we found that the differentiation of promonocytic cells results in massive FGF1 release, which also correlates with membrane blebbing and exposure of phosphatidylserine. These findings indicate that the externalization of acidic phospholipids could be used as a pharmacological target to regulate the availability of FGF1 in the organism.