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  • Title: Proteins on exocytic vesicles mediate calcium-triggered fusion.
    Author: Vogel SS, Zimmerberg J.
    Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A; 1992 May 15; 89(10):4749-53. PubMed ID: 1584814.
    Abstract:
    In many exocytic systems, micromolar concentrations of intracellular Ca2+ trigger fusion. We find that aggregates of secretory granules isolated from sea urchin eggs fuse together when perfused with greater than or equal to 10 microM free Ca2+. Mixing of membrane components was demonstrated by transfer of fluorescent lipophilic dye, and melding of granule contents was seen with differential interference microscopy. A technique based upon light scattering was developed to conveniently detect fusion. Two protein modifiers, trypsin and N-ethylmaleimide, inhibit granule-granule fusion at concentrations similar to those that inhibit granule-plasma membrane fusion. We suggest that molecular machinery sufficient for Ca(2+)-triggered fusion resides on secretory granules as purified and that at least some of these essential components are proteinaceous.
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