Exocytosis is a highly conserved and ubiquitous process of eukaryotic cells responsible for the release of signaling molecules into extracellular space. Exocytosis involves trafficking, docking and eventually fusion of vesicles, carrying various cargo, with the plasma membrane. Until recently, the membrane fusion was considered to be predominantly mediated by proteins such as SNAP receptors, Muncs and Rabs, where lipids only played a passive role. However, newer studies portray lipids differently.
COBISS.SI-ID: 27590617
An important mode of communication between cells is mediated by neurotransmitters, hormones and other chemical messengers that are stored in secretory vesicles. Recent results show that the fusion pore is a rather stable structure. The aim of this chapter is to first review how can such a structure attain stability and compare two models in which membrane constituents are either isotropic or anisotropic in nature. Then we address the molecular nature of such a stable, release-unproductive fusion pore.