The incoherence of the vesicle theory of protein secretion.
The rates at which cells secrete peptides and proteins must on average equal their rate of synthesis. This basic equality has unanticipated and seemingly categorical negative consequences for the vesicle theory of protein secretion. This is because the transport mechanisms it proposes, such as the budding and fusion of small vesicles and secretion by exocytosis, are not capable of balancing forces. What follows is an account of the analysis that leads to this conclusion.
Rothman
Stephen
S
University of California, San Francisco, 98 Acacia Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708, USA. stephen.rothman@ucsf.edu
D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins