Control of fusion pore dynamics during exocytosis by Munc18

RJ Fisher, J Pevsner, RD Burgoyne - Science, 2001 - science.org
RJ Fisher, J Pevsner, RD Burgoyne
Science, 2001science.org
Intracellular membrane fusion is mediated by the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide–
sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins. All vesicle transport steps also have
an essential requirement for a member of the Sec1 protein family, including the neuronal
Munc18-1 (also known as nSec1) in regulated exocytosis. Here, in adrenal chromaffin cells,
we expressed a Munc18 mutant with reduced affinity for syntaxin, which specifically modified
the kinetics of single-granule exocytotic release events, consistent with an acceleration of …
Intracellular membrane fusion is mediated by the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins. All vesicle transport steps also have an essential requirement for a member of the Sec1 protein family, including the neuronal Munc18-1 (also known as nSec1) in regulated exocytosis. Here, in adrenal chromaffin cells, we expressed a Munc18 mutant with reduced affinity for syntaxin, which specifically modified the kinetics of single-granule exocytotic release events, consistent with an acceleration of fusion pore expansion. Thus, Munc18 functions in a late stage in the fusion process, where its dissociation from syntaxin determines the kinetics of postfusion events.
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