Molecular Mechanisms of Exocytosis (Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit)

Exocytosis is a fundamental cellular process that is used by eukaryotic cells to release a variety of biological compounds including peptide hormones and neurotransmitters or to insert specific lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane. In recent years, a multidisciplinary approach promoted an extraordinary progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating exocytosis. This led to the discovery of a large number of components belonging to the machinery that governs the fusion of secretory vesicles with plasma membranes in different cell systems, including neuronal and endocrine cells. The basic machinery required for vesicle fusion turned out to be well conserved through evolution from yeast to man. So far, because of the large number of components involved, understanding of the molecular basis of exocytosis has remained the privilege of a relatively small group of specialists. This book, written by recognized experts in the field aims at clarifying for a non-specialist audience the role of the key players in the exocytotic process not only in neuronal and endocrine cells but also in a variety of other relevant cell systems. The book represents a unique collection of up-to-date reviews that will introduce researchers and students to the forefront of this rapidly moving and fascinating field. Exocytosis: Lessons From Snare Mutants And Friends / Emmanuel Sotirakis And Thierry Galli -- Regulation Of Snare Complex Assembly By Second Messengers: Roles Of Phospholipases, Munc13 And Munc18 / Alexander J.a. Groffen And Matthijs Verhage -- Rab Gtpases And Their Role In The Control Of Exocytosis / Ramano Regazzi -- The Role Of Synaptotagmin And Synaptotagmin-like Protein (slp) In Regulated Exocytosis / Mitsunori Fukuda -- The Synapsins And The Control Of Neuroexocytosis / Pietro Baldelli, Anna Fassio, Anna Corradi, Flavia Valtorta And Fabio Benfenati -- Phospholipase D: A Multi-regulated Lipid-modifying Enzyme Involved In The Late Stages Of Exocytosis / Marie-france Bader And Nicolas Vitale -- Lipid Rafts As Regulators Of Snare Activitiy And Exocytosis / Christine Salaun And Luke H. Chamberlain -- Mast Cells As A Model Of Nonneuroendocrine Exocytosis / Cristiana Brochetta And Ulrich Blank -- Acrosomal Exocytosis / Claudia Nora Tomes -- Nonsecretory, Regulated Exocytosis: A Multifarious Mechanism Employed By Cells To Carry Out A Variety Of Functions / Emanuele Cocucci And Jacopo Meldolesi -- Adaptation Of The Secretory Machinery To Pathophysiological Conditions / Abderrahmani Amar. [edited By] Romano Regazzi. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Exocytosis....Pages 1-9 Regulation of SNARE Complex Assembly by Second Messengers....Pages 10-27 Rab GTPases and Their Role in the Control of Exocytosis....Pages 28-41 The Role of Synaptotagmin and Synaptotagmin-Like Protein (Slp) in Regulated Exocytosis....Pages 42-61 The Synapsins and the Control of Neuroexocytosis....Pages 62-74 Phospholipase D....Pages 75-83 Lipid Rafts as Regulators of SNARE Activity and Exocytosis....Pages 84-99 Mast Cells as a Model of Nonneuroendocrine Exocytosis....Pages 100-116 Acrosomal Exocytosis....Pages 117-147 Nonsecretory, Regulated Exocytosis....Pages 148-160 Adaptation of the Secretory Machinery to Pathophysiological Conditions....Pages 161-173 Back Matter....Pages 175-178 This book examines the role of key components in the exocytotic process, not only in neuronal and endocrine cells but in a variety of other relevant cell systems. So far, because of the large number of components involved, understanding of the molecular basis of exocytosis has remained the privilege of a relatively small group of specialists. The book collects up-to-date reviews from the forefront of this fascinating and rapidly evolving field. Jointly published with Landes Bioscience, Austin, TX, USA