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Regulated exocytosis: new organelles for non-secretory purposes

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 6, pages 181–187 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Regulated exocytosis is a process in which the membranes of cytoplasmic organelles fuse with the plasma membrane in response to stimulation. In many cases (secretory exocytoses), the process functions to secrete specific products that are segregated in the organelle lumen (for example, neurotransmitters, hormones and enzymes) to the extracellular space. In other cases ('non-secretory exocytoses'), it functions to transfer the organelle membrane and its components to the cell surface. Here, the general properties of non-secretory exocytoses are discussed.

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Figure 1: Various types of secretory exocytosis.
Figure 2: The non-secretory, exocytic translocation of membrane proteins.
Figure 3: The non-secretory, exocytic translocation of membrane patches.

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Acknowledgements

The original studies by E.C. and J.M. that are reported in this article were supported by grants from the European Union (Growbeta), Italian Ministry of Research (Co-Fin and FIRB), and Telethon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Center of Excellence in Cellular Pathophysiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, 20132, Italy

    Evelina Chieregatti & Jacopo Meldolesi

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  1. Evelina Chieregatti
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  2. Jacopo Meldolesi
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Correspondence to Jacopo Meldolesi.

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DATABASES

Swiss-Prot

aquaporin-2

aquaporin-8

calmodulin

dysferlin

GluR1

GLUT4

insulin

protein kinase Cζ

ROMK1

SNAP23

tetanus toxin

TRPC3

TRPC5

VAMP2

VAMP3

VAMP8

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Chieregatti, E., Meldolesi, J. Regulated exocytosis: new organelles for non-secretory purposes. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 6, 181–187 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm1572

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