title: The nature and efficiency of neurotransmitter exocytosis also depend on physicochemical parameters.
abstract: Exocytosis is an important biological process used by cells to deliver messengers or effectors to target cells with high spatial, quantitative, and kinetic precision. This process occurs by interaction and fusion of vesicles containing the (bio)chemical information with the cell membrane to release their contents into the surrounding medium. Because of its importance for life, this mechanism underlies many biological controlling factors, including different families of proteins and enzymes. Tremendous efforts have been made over the last decade toward their determination. However, in parallel, many studies have also shown that the physical and chemical characteristics of the exocytosis actors (vesicle, membrane, and extracellular medium) could directly affect the quantitative or kinetic features of secretion. The major pieces evidence for this influence, which have been reported in the literature, are reviewed herein. It demonstrates undoubtedly that pure biological aspects cannot be segregated from the physicochemical context of living mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire PASTEUR, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 24, rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France. Christian.Amatore@ens.fr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amatore
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arbault
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guille
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lemaître
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology*; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents