On vesicles and membrane compartments |
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Authors: | Gareth Griffiths |
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Institution: | (1) European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69012 Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany |
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Abstract: | Summary Two different mechanisms have been proposed to explain transport along the endocytic and biosynthetic transport routes in cells. The first involves stable compartments connected by vesicular traffic while the second argues that the key organelles (early endosomes or the cis Golgi) form de novo by fusion of vesicles and subsequently mature into later forms. In the first part of this article, I propose a classification that distinguishes between stable, preexisting membrane compartments and vesicles that are, by definition, transient organelles. In this scheme, compartments, but not vesicles, are capable of homotypic fusion while vesicles, but not compartments, are able to mature , a process defined as an irreversible set of biochemical events which lead to a physiologically distinct end-state of the vesicle prior to its vectorial fusion with a target compartment. In the second part, I summarize my current ideas about the ultrastructural organization of the ER-Golgi region. Finally, I review the cell biology of selected examples of different vesicle types in order to exemplify the fascinating diversity of functions that this class of membrane organelles has evolved.Abbreviations COP
coatomer
- ECV
endosome carrier vesicle
- ER
endoplasmic reticulum
- HRP
horseradish peroxidase
- IC
intermediate compartment between ER and Golgi
- MVB
multivesicular body
- NSF
N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor
- SNAPS
soluble NSF associated proteins
- TGN
trans Golgi network
Dedicated to Professor Eldon H. Newcomb in recognition of his contributions to cell biology |
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Keywords: | Membrane compartments Membrane traffic Vesicles |
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