title: Reconstitution of calcium-triggered membrane fusion using "reserve" granules.
abstract: Calcium-gated secretion of proteins involves the transfer of "reserve" granules, exocytotic vesicles that are cytoplasmic and, hence, plasma membrane-naive, from the cell interior to the surface membrane where they dock prior to fusion. Docking and subsequent priming steps are thought to require cytoplasmic factors. These steps are believed to induce fusion competence. We have tested this hypothesis by isolating reserve granules from sea urchin eggs and determining under which conditions these granules will fuse. We find that isolated reserve granules, lacking soluble cofactors, support calcium-dependent membrane fusion in vitro. Preincubation with adenosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate did not prevent fusion. Thus, isolated reserve granules have all the necessary components required for calcium-gated fusion prior to docking.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Chestkov
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Radko
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrambach
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000345:Affinity Labels / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D005089:Exocytosis; D005260:Female; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012617:Sea Urchins
chemical_list: D000345:Affinity Labels; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; C022571:adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate); D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium