Cholesterol, regulated exocytosis and the physiological fusion machine.
Exocytosis is a highly conserved and essential process. Although numerous proteins are involved throughout the exocytotic process, the defining membrane fusion step appears to occur through a lipid-dominated mechanism. Here we review and integrate the current literature on protein and lipid roles in exocytosis, with emphasis on the multiple roles of cholesterol in exocytosis and membrane fusion, in an effort to promote a more molecular systems-level view of the as yet poorly understood process of Ca2+-triggered membrane mergers.
Churchward
Matthew A
MA
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, AB, Canada.
Coorssen
Jens R
JR
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000502:physiology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D050576:Membrane Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D053585:Virus Attachment
D050576:Membrane Fusion Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol