title: Fusion pore or porosome: structure and dynamics.
abstract: Electrophysiological measurements on live secretory cells almost a decade ago suggested the presence of fusion pores at the cell plasma membrane. Membrane-bound secretory vesicles were hypothesized to dock and fuse at these sites, to release their contents. Our studies using atomic force microscopy on live exocrine and neuroendocrine cells demonstrate the presence of such plasma membrane pores, revealing their morphology and dynamics at near nm resolution and in real time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 5239 Scott Hall, 540 E. Canfield Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201-4177, USA. bjena@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Jena
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016062:Porosity; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin