◐ Shell
reader mode source ↗
Skip to main page content
Full text links Cite
Display options

Abstract

Secretion and membrane fusion are fundamental cellular processes involved in the physiology of health and disease. Studies within the past decade reveal the molecular mechanism of secretion and membrane fusion in cells. Studies reveal that membrane-bound secretory vesicles dock and fuse at porosomes, which are specialized plasma membrane structures. Swelling of secretory vesicles result in a build-up of intravesicular pressure, which allows expulsion of vesicular contents. The discovery of the porosome, its isolation, its structure and dynamics at nm resolution and in real time, its biochemical composition and functional reconstitution, are discussed. The molecular mechanism of secretory vesicle fusion at the base of porosomes, and vesicle swelling, have been resolved. With these findings a new understanding of cell secretion has emerged and confirmed by a number of laboratories.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Monck J.R., Oberhauser A.F., Fernandez J.M., The exocytotic fusion pore interface: a model of the site of neurotransmitter release, Mol. Memb. Biol., 12: 151–156, 1995. - PubMed
    1. Schneider S.W., Sritharan K.C., Geibel J.P., Oberleithner H., Jena B.P., Surface dynamics in living acinar cells imaged by atomic force microscopy: identification of plasma membrane structures involved in exocytosis, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94: 316–321, 1997. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cho S.‐J., Quinn A.S., Stromer M.H., Dash S., Cho J., Taatjes D.J., Jena B.P., Structure and dynamics of the fusion pore in live cells, Cell Biol. Int., 26: 35–42, 2002. - PubMed
    1. Cho S.‐J., Jeftinija K., Glavaski A., Jeftinija S., Jena B.P., Anderson L.L., Structure and dynamics of the fusion pores in live GH‐secreting cells revealed using atomic force microscopy, Endocrinology, 143: 1144–1148, 2002. - PubMed
    1. Cho S.‐J., Wakade A., Pappas G.D., Jena B.P., New structure involved in transient membrane fusion and exocytosis, New York Acad. Sci., 971: 254–256, 2002. - PubMed
Show all 46 references

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding