title: The exocyst complex in polarized exocytosis.
abstract: The exocyst is an octameric protein complex, which mediates the tethering of post-Golgi secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane before exocytic fusion. The exocyst assembles by side-by-side packing of rod-shaped subunits composed of helical bundles. The targeting of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane involves direct interactions of the exocyst with PI(4,5)P(2). In addition, a number of small GTP-binding proteins interact with components of the exocyst and regulate the assembly, localization, and function of this complex. Here we review the recent advances in the field, focusing on the function of the exocyst in polarized exocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005089:Exocytosis; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D050600:SNARE Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050600:SNARE Proteins; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins