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Inhibition of exocytosis by intracellularly applied antibodies against a chromaffin granule-binding protein

Nature volume 339, pages 709–712 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

EXOCYTOTIC secretion requires the interaction and fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane1–3. This process could be mediated by specific recognition molecules acting as intracellular, membrane-bound receptors and ligands4. One possible component of such a recognition site on the plasma membrane is a protein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 51,000 (51K) that has been isolated from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. This protein binds strongly to chromaffin granules, the secretory vesicles of these cells5. To determine the function of this membrane-anchored chromaffin granule-binding protein in exocytosis, we tested the effect of intracellularly injected antibodies on secretion. Here we show, by two independent techniques in two different cell types, that antibodies against this protein inhibit exocytosis. In rat pheochromocytoma cell cultures, monospecific antibodies, applied by erythrocyte ghost fusion6, impair the release of 3H-noradrenaline. The same antibodies, introduced into individual chromaffin cells through a patch pipette, block exocytosis, as revealed by the measurement of membrane capacitance7–9. These results demonstrate the functional involvement in exocytosis of a plasma membrane protein with high affinity for secretory vesicles.

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Author notes

  1. Carlo Tapparelli

    Present address: Sandoz Ltd, Preclinical Research, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

  2. Rolf Heumann & Hans Thoenen

    Present address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA

  3. Richard J. Bookman

    Present address: Abteilung Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychtatrte, D-8033, Martinsried, FRG

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich Miescher Institut, Postfach 2543, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Felix E. Schiweizer, Theo Schäfer, Carlo Tapparelli, Marianne Grob, Urs O. Karli, Rolf Heumann, Hans Thoenen, Richard J. Bookman & Max M. Burger

  2. Sandoz Ltd, Preclinical Research, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Rolf Heumann, Hans Thoenen & Richard J. Bookman

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  1. Felix E. Schiweizer
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  9. Max M. Burger
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Schiweizer, F., Schäfer, T., Tapparelli, C. et al. Inhibition of exocytosis by intracellularly applied antibodies against a chromaffin granule-binding protein. Nature 339, 709–712 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/339709a0

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