title: Conservation and specialization. The role of the exocyst in neuronal exocytosis.
abstract: The exocyst is an octameric complex mediating vesicle targeting and tethering at the plasma membrane for exocytosis. The role of exocyst in nervous system is unclear. In this issue of Neuron, Murthy et al. provide important insights: defects in the exocyst inhibit neurite outgrowth and neuromuscular junction formation; however, synaptic transmission persists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: EauClaire
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*