Targeting vesicles to specific sites on the plasma membrane: the role of the sec6/8 complex

• Published in: Trends in Cell Biology Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 150 - 153
• Main Authors: Hsu, Shu-Chan, Hazuka, Christopher D, Foletti, Davide L, Scheller, Richard H
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.1999
• Subjects: Animals; Carrier Proteins - physiology; Cell Line; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cytoplasmic Granules - secretion; Dogs; Evolution, Molecular; Exocytosis - physiology; Fungal Proteins - physiology; Genes, Lethal; Macromolecular Substances; Mammals - metabolism; Mice; Models, Biological; Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology; Organelles - metabolism; plasma membrane; protein secretion; Rats; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - physiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; sec6 protein; sec8 protein; secretion; secretory pathway; Signal Transduction; Species Specificity; vesicle docking; vesicle transport; vesicular traffic; Vesicular Transport Proteins; Neuroscience; secretion; plasma membrane; Cell biology; secretory pathway; Biochemistry; vesicle docking; vesicle transport; protein secretion; vesicular traffic
• ISSN: 0962-8924; 1879-3088
• DOI: 10.1016/S0962-8924(99)01516-0

The delivery of secretory vesicles to appropriate docking and fusion sites on the plasma membrane is crucial for many cellular functions, including formation of synapses, exocytosis of neurotransmitter, establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, cell growth and plasma membrane wound healing. Cell-biological, genetic and biochemical approaches have identified crucial proteins and protein interactions important for vesicle docking and fusion. However, a description of the molecular mechanisms underlying vesicle targeting to specific membrane-fusion sites remains elusive. This review discusses a set of proteins that might direct vesicles to specific domains of the plasma membrane.