title: The Exocyst Complex in Health and Disease.
abstract: Exocytosis involves the fusion of intracellular secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane, thereby delivering integral membrane proteins to the cell surface and releasing material into the extracellular space. Importantly, exocytosis also provides a source of lipid moieties for membrane extension. The tethering of the secretory vesicle before docking and fusion with the plasma membrane is mediated by the exocyst complex, an evolutionary conserved octameric complex of proteins. Recent findings indicate that the exocyst complex also takes part in other intra-cellular processes besides secretion. These various functions seem to converge toward defining a direction of membrane growth in a range of systems from fungi to plants and from neurons to cilia. In this review we summarize the current knowledge of exocyst function in cell polarity, signaling and cell-cell communication and discuss implications for plant and animal health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Urdiroz
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Deeks
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Connor G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Helen R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jourdain
keywords: exocyst complex; fungi; mammals; pathogens; plants