Fusion of neurohypophyseal membranes in vitro

Synaptic transmission at retinal ribbon synapses

The molecular organization of ribbon synapses in photoreceptors and ON bipolar cells is reviewed in relation to the process of neurotransmitter release. The interactions between ribbon synapse-associated proteins, synaptic vesicle fusion machinery and the voltage-gated calcium channels that gate transmitter release at ribbon synapses are discussed in relation to the process of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We describe structural and mechanistic specializations that permit the ON bipolar cell to release transmitter at a much higher rate than the photoreceptor does, under in vivo conditions. We also consider the modulation of exocytosis at photoreceptor synapses, with an emphasis on the regulation of calcium channels.

Polyamines in nerve terminals and secretory granules isolated from neurohypophyses

In isolated nerve terminals from ox neurohypophyses the following concentrations of polyamines [pmol (microgram protein)-1 (mean +/- SEM)] were found: spermine: 2.07 +/- 0.14 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.22 +/- 0.01 (n = 4), putrescine: 0.20 +/- 0.01 (n = 4). In secretory granules isolated from the same tissue, the concentrations were: spermine: 0.57 +/- 0.02 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.07 +/- 0.04 (n = 3), putrescine: 0.13 +/- 0.04 (n = 3). After incubation of isolated nerve terminals with the polyamines, they were taken up as a function of time and concentration, approaching saturation at high concentrations. The kinetic parameters of their synthesizing enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, in ox neurohypophyseal nerve terminals (apparent Km 0.75 mM and Vmax 22.5 pmol mg protein-1 h-1) were comparable to those previously found in cerebral cortex of rats. When isolated, hemilobes from rat neurohypophyses were incubated in a medium which contained spermidine (5 mM), and were stimulated by 56 mM K+, release of vasopressin was smaller than in control experiments. However, after removal of spermidine and after restimulation, 50 min after initial stimulation, the release was significantly elevated. It is suggested that polyamines may take part in modulation of vasopressin release.

Proteins on exocytic vesicles mediate calcium-triggered fusion

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.

Characteristics of ascorbic acid uptake by isolated ox neurohypophyseal nerve terminals and the influence of glucocorticoid and tri-iodothyronine on uptake

Isolated nerve endings (neurosecretosomes) from ox neurohypophyses took up L-[14C]ascorbic acid by a process or processes which showed energy dependence and which could be inhibited by unlabelled ascorbic acid in micromolar concentrations and by isoascorbic acid in millimolar concentrations, whereas dehydroascorbic acid only inhibited in concentrations of about 100 mM. The uptake showed saturation with increasing concentration of ascorbic acid and a Km value of 97 microM. Uptake was inhibited by increasing glucose concentration in the medium or by adding cytochalasin B, phloridzin, ethanol or probenecid to the medium. The uptake was inhibited by lowering the sodium concentration and by lack of calcium. These facts suggest the presence of both a glucose-dependent uptake and a sodium-dependent uptake. Cortisol and tri-iodothyronine inhibited uptake. This effect of cortisol, but not of tri-iodothyronine, was dependent on the presence of sodium in the medium. For both hormones it was still present when phloridzin or probenecid was added to the medium.

Calcium-dependent fusion of the plasma membrane fraction from human neutrophils with liposomes

A cell-free assay monitoring lipid mixing was used to investigate the role of Ca2+ in neutrophil membrane-liposome fusion. Micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ were found to directly stimulate fusion of inside-out neutrophil plasma membrane enriched fractions (from neutrophils subjected to nitrogen cavitation) with liposomes (phosphatidylethanolamine:phosphatidic acid, 4:1 molar ratio). In contrast, right-side-out plasma membranes and granule membranes did not fuse with liposomes in the presence of Ca2+. Similar results were obtained with two different lipid mixing assays. Fusion of the neutrophil plasma membrane-enriched fraction with liposomes was dependent upon the concentration of Ca2+, with threshold and 50% maximal rate of fusion occurring at 2 microM and 50 microM, respectively. Furthermore, the fusion was highly specific for Ca2+; other divalent cations such as Ba2+, Mg2+ and Sr2+ promoted fusion only at millimolar concentrations. Red blood cell (RBC) membranes were used in control studies. Ca2(+)-dependent fusion did not occur between right-side-out or inside-out RBC-vesicles and liposomes. However, if the RBC-vesicles were exposed to conditions which depleted spectrin (i.e., low salt), then Ca2(+)-dependent fusion was detected. Other quantitative differences between neutrophil and RBC membranes were found; fusion of liposomes with RBC membranes was most readily achieved with La3+ while neutrophil membrane-liposome fusion was most readily obtained with Ca2+. Furthermore, GTP gamma S was found to enhance Ca2(+)-dependent fusion between liposomes and neutrophil plasma membranes, but not RBC membranes. These studies show that plasma membranes (enriched fractions) from neutrophils are readily capable of fusing with artificial lipid membranes in the presence of micromolar concentrations of Ca2+.

Perforated MDCK cells support intracellular transport

We have developed a method for perforating the plasma membrane of MDCK cells while retaining cellular functions. A nitrocellulose acetate filter was applied to the apical side of cells, grown on a glass coverslip, and allowed to dry. Segments of the apical plasma membrane adhered to the filter and were detached from the cell layer by shearing when the filter was peeled off. This allowed macromolecules such as antibodies and enzymes to diffuse into the cells. The cells were otherwise intact as judged by light and electron microscopy. The perforated cells maintained their capacity to support vesicular transport of proteins and lipids. Vesicular stomatitis virus infected cells readily incorporated [35S]methionine into G protein following permeabilization. This G protein was core-glycosylated during assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum, and was further transported to the trans Golgi with high efficiency. Experiments using lipid probes demonstrated that newly synthesized fluorescent sphingolipids were transported from the Golgi complex to the basolateral cell surface in perforated cells. Our results show that perforated cells provide a convenient and efficient alternative to cell-free assays for studying the molecular mechanism of intracellular transport.

Structural changes at pure cholinergic synaptosomes during the transmitter release induced by A-23187 in Torpedo marmorata. A freeze-fracture study

Pure cholinergic synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata were stimulated by calcium ionophore A-23187. The effect of time course of stimulation on the changes in intramembrane particles (IMPs) on presynaptic membranes was studied by quick-freezing and aldehyde-fixation freeze-fracture. We showed that the decrease of small-particle density at the P-face and the increase of large-particle density at the E-face was maximum after 30 sec of A-23187 stimulation. Later, the density of synaptic vesicles decreased. We suggest that the redistribution of IMPs on the presynaptic membrane and acetylcholine (ACh) release from pure cholinergic synaptosomes have a similar time course when triggered by A-23187.

Uptake of dehydroascorbic acid and ascorbic acid to isolated nerve terminals and secretory granules from ox neurohypophyses

When uptake of L-[14C]ascorbic acid ([14C]AA) to various organs in guinea-pigs was studied after intracardiac injection, the adenohypophysis, pars intermedia, and the neurohypophysis had an uptake per milligramme protein which was about half of the uptake to the adrenals. Adrenal uptake was 20 +/- 2.8 pmol mg-1 protein microCi-1 injected. The uptake to the different parts of the hypophysis was considerably higher than the uptake to pancreas, liver, kidney, spleen and other organs. When isolated nerve endings (neurosecretosomes) from ox neurohypophyses were incubated with a medium containing labelled dehydroascorbic acid ([14C]DHA), the uptake was much slower than when the medium contained labelled ascorbic acid. The uptake of [14C]DHA showed a linear dependence on concentration, and was not influenced by addition of Mg2+ and ATP. Addition of Mg2+ + ATP, omission of Ca2+ and Mg2+ or exchange of Na+ in the medium with K+ had no effect on the uptake of ascorbic acid. When isolated secretory granules from ox neurohypophyses were incubated with a medium containing [14C]DHA, uptake was considerably faster than the uptake when they were incubated in a medium containing [14C]AA. The uptake of dehydroascorbic acid was linear with the concentration in the medium and was not changed by addition of Mg2+ ATP. Addition of 10 mM NH4Cl or exchange of 120 mM K+ in the incubation medium with Na+ did not change the uptake of dehydroascorbic acid. The contents of copper, zinc, iron and cobalt were determined in isolated nerve endings (A) and membranes (B) as well as in lysate (C) from isolated neurosecretory granules. The results (in nmol mg-1 protein) were for Cu: (A): 0.25 +/- 0.01 (SEM), (B): 0.67 +/- 0.16, (C): 0.22 +/- 0.06; for Zn: (A): 0.53 +/- 0.13, (B): 6.97 +/- 0.75, (C): 1.8 +/- 0.53; and for Fe: (A): 15.6 +/- 1.9, (B): 6.92 +/- 0.32, (C): 3.15 +/- 0.43. In all preparations the cobalt content was below the detection limit (less than 5 pmol mg-1 protein).

Processing and secretion in the neurohypophysis. Stability of isolated secretory vesicles and role of internal pH

A possible role of low pH in secretory vesicles for processing and secretion in the neurohypophysis was investigated. Subcellular fractionation of guinea-pig neural lobes revealed that a proton present in the membranes from this tissue could not be ascribed to secretory vesicles. However, a proton pump was found in coated microvesicles. Secretory vesicles isolated from rats and guinea pigs were stable under conditions known to lyse secretory vesicles from the adrenal medulla owing to the generation of a proton gradient. These results suggest that the internal pH of secretory vesicles from the neurohypophysis is closer to neutral than is the pH in chromaffin secretory vesicles. Processing of a neurophysin-glycopeptide intermediate from the biosynthesis of vasopressin in intact secretory vesicles incubated in vitro was activated by the addition of NH4Cl, known to increase the intravesicular pH. This activation of neurohormone processing was also apparent in isolated nerve endings incubated in the presence of NH4Cl, suggesting that NH4Cl can also be used to increase the intravesicular pH in intact nerve endings. However, NH4Cl did not affect the secretion of neurohormones, indicating that a low intravesicular pH is not important for exocytosis in the neurohypophysis. Our results indicate that a low pH generated during processing by mechanisms other than ATP-dependent proton transport may inhibit the processing enzymes, thereby preventing extensive breakdown of neurohormone precursors.

Identification of calmodulin-binding proteins on membranes of secretory granules isolated from bovine neurohypophyses

Membrane proteins from isolated, purified ox neurohypophyseal secretory granules were separated by sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Using a gel overlay technique, after renaturation procedures, it was demonstrated that 125J calmodulin bound in a Ca2+-dependent way to two protein bands with molecular weights (MW) of 58,000 and 52,000. Binding of small amounts of calmodulin to other protein bands was independent of calcium. No calmodulin binding to granule content proteins could be detected. Treatment of the granules with trypsin prior to separation of membrane proteins removed the Ca2+-dependent binding proteins from the granule membrane. On incubation of granules with [gamma-32P]ATP, protein bands with MW of 52,000 and 45,000 showed a marked phosphorylation activity. The 52,000 band had the same electrophoretic mobility as one of the calmodulin-binding bands. However, no effect of calmodulin on phosphorylation of this band could be demonstrated.

Electric pulse-induced fusion of mouse lymphoma cells: roles of divalent cations and membrane lipid domains

Mouse leukemic lymphoblasts (L5178Y) brought into close contact by dielectrophoresis underwent cell fusion following the application of electrical pulses in the presence of electrolytes. The electrically fused cells became spherical after switching off the dielectrophoretic field. Fusion between a cell vitally stained with Janus Green and that with Neutral Red resulted in the homokaryon with a mixed color. Intracellular potentials simultaneously recorded from the two cells located on both sides of the homokaryon were identical. The fusion efficiency was remarkably dependent upon temperature, displaying a discontinuity at about 11 degrees C in the Arrhenius plot. The extracellular application of phospholipase-A2 or -C suppressed the fusion yield. Thus, it appears that the phospholipid domains play a crucial role in the electric pulse-induced cell fusion. Treatment of the cells with proteolytic enzymes markedly enhanced the fusion yield, presumably due to removing the glycocalix and/or giving rise to fusion-potent, protein-free lipid domains. The presence of millimolar concentrations of divalent cations (irrespective of Mg2+ or Ca2+) as well as of micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ (but not Mg2+) was prerequisite to the resealing of membranes suffered from electrical breakdown upon exposure to electric pulses. In addition, extracellular Ca2+ (but not Mg2+) ions at more than micromolar concentrations were indispensable for the cell fusion.

Ascorbic acid uptake to isolated nerve terminals and secretory granules from ox neurohypophyses

Isolated nerve terminals (neurosecretosomes) from cow neurohypophyses accumulated radioactivity when they were incubated with L[14C]-ascorbic acid in an ionic medium dominated by NaCl. Uptake of radioactivity was saturable with ascorbic acid concentration. Replacement of Na+ with Li+ in the incubation medium or presence of ouabain inhibited the accumulation. Isolated, purified cow neurosecretory granules contained 14 +/- 2 nmol ascorbate (n = 10) per mg of protein. When such granules were incubated with L[14C]-ascorbic acid in a KCl dominated medium, they took up radioactivity slowly. The accumulation was not saturable with ascorbic acid concentration and was not influenced by the presence of Mg2+ATP.

Calmodulin binding to secretory granules isolated from bovine neurohypophyses

Secretory granules, isolated from bovine neurohypophyses on isoosmolar Percoll-sucrose-EGTA gradients had a calmodulin content of 0.09 +/- 0.01 micrograms/mg protein (SE, n = 6). The distribution of calmodulin on the gradient showed that it did not copurify with the granules. Specific binding sites for calmodulin with a high affinity (Kd = 2.43 +/- 0.27 X 10(-9) M (SE, n = 5] and a maximum binding capacity of 1.3 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg protein (SE, n = 5) could be demonstrated when such secretory granules were incubated with 125I-calmodulin.

Calcium/sodium exchange in purified secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses

Purified secretory vesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses take up Na+ under the same circumstances where an efflux of Ca2+ takes place, suggesting a Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Potassium cannot substitute for Na+ in this process. Also, a Ca2+/Ca2+ exchange can occur. Inhibiting the latter process by Mg2+ allowed to estimate an apparent KM of 0.7 microM free Ca2+ and a maximal uptake of 1.5 nmol X mg protein-1 X min-1 Ca2+ in exchange for Na+. The vesicles did not contain plasma membrane marker (Na+/K+ ATPase) as shown by distribution analyses on the density gradients on which they were purified. Similarly, distribution studies also showed that no other ATPase activity could be detected in the purified vesicle fraction. It is concluded that a Na+/Ca2+ exchange is operating across the secretory vesicle membrane and that it is not directly dependent on ATP hydrolysis.

3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate- and Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent endogenous protein phosphorylation activity in membranes of the bovine chromaffin secretory vesicles: identification of two phosphorylated components as tyrosine hydroxylase and protein kinase regulatory subunit type II

Membranes of the secretory vesicles from bovine adrenal medulla were investigated for the presence of the endogenous protein phosphorylation activity. Seven phosphoprotein bands in the molecular weight range of 250,000 to 30,000 were observed by means of the sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis and autoradiography. On the basis of the criteria of molecular weight, selective stimulation of the phosphorylation by cyclic AMP (as compared with cyclic GMP) and immunoprecipitation by specific antibodies, band 5 (molecular weight 60,300) was found to represent the phosphorylated form of the secretory vesicle-bound tyrosine hydroxylase. The electrophoretic mobility, the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of cyclic AMP in presence of Mg2+ and Zn,2+ respectively, and immunoreactivity toward antibodies showed band 6 to contain two forms of the regulatory subunits of the type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, distinguishable by their molecular weights (56,000 and 52,000, respectively). Phosphorylation of band 7 (molecular weight 29,800) was stimulated about 2 to 3 times by Ca2+ and calmodulin in the concentration range of both agents believed to occur in the secretory tissues under physiological conditions.

Ca2+ uptake to purified secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses

Purified secretory vesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses were found to take up Ca2+ when incubated at 30 degrees C in media containing 10(-7) to 10(-4) M free Ca2+. At 10(-4) free Ca2+ 19 nmol/mg protein were taken up within 30 min. The initial uptake at this Ca2+ concentration was about 2 nmol/mg protein per min. The uptake of Ca2+ to secretory vesicles was not affected by ATP, oligomycin, ruthenium red, trifluoperazine, Mg2+ or K+, but was inhibited by Na+ and Sr2+. From these characteristics it can be concluded that the uptake system does not utilize directly ATP (as the Ca2+-ATPases known to be present in the cell membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum) and is different from the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake system driven by respiration and/or ATP hydrolysis. However, Ca2+-Na+ exchange may well operate: In experiments using different concentrations of Na+ we found half-maximal inhibition of Ca2+ uptake with 33.3 mM Na+. An analysis of the data in a Hill plot indicated that at least 2 Na+ would be exchanged for 1 Ca2+. Also, it was found that Ca2+ previously taken up could be released again by external Na+ but not by K+.

The relationship between the membrane potential of neurosecretory nerve endings, as measured by a voltage-sensitive dye, and the release of neurohypophysial hormones

The membrane potential of isolated rat neurohypophyses and isolated neurosecretosomes (neurosecretory nerve endings) was monitored with the voltage sensitive fluorescent probe diS-C3-(5). K ions, in contrast to Na or Cl ions, give rise to large changes of the fluorescent signal. The fluorescent response is linearly related to log[K+]0 at values higher than 10 mM, whereas at lower [K+]0 the permeability of the membrane for Na ions has to be taken into account. Veratridine increases the fluorescent signal only in the presence of external sodium; this effect is blocked by tetrodotoxin. After prolonged K-induced depolarisation, addition of veratridine to the medium gives a further change in fluorescence of diS-C3-(5) associated with release of vasopressin. Vasopressin release from isolated neurohypophyses started to increase significantly only above 25 mk [K+]0, while the depolarization of the membrane was linearly related to log[K+]0. The results are consistent with the view that neurosecretory nerve endings have voltage-dependent calcium channels that regulate the amount of hormone released during depolarisation.

Further studies on properties of renin granules isolated from rat kidney cortex

The properties of renin granules isolated from rat renal cortex were studied. Renin granules were thermolabile since in 10 min at 0 degrees C twice as much renin was released as at +37 degrees C. Addition of Ca++ (10(-6) M - 10(-2) M) did not affect the spontaneous release at +37 degrees C, pH 6.5, during 10 or 30 min incubation. However, when pH was elevated to above 7, renin release was significantly increased by Ca++ (10(-3) M). Additions of various amounts of KCl, NaCl or MgCl2, which increased the osmolality less than 20 mOsm/kg, did not affect the stability of the renin granules. Mg-ATP (0.5 and 5 mM) as well as Mg-GTP (5 mM) stabilized renin granules at +37 degrees C, pH 6.5, but the corresponding nitrogen analogues Mg-AMP-PNP and Mg-GMP-PNP (0.5 and 5 mM) were not effective. Neither did Mg-AMP (5 mM) nor ATP (5 mM) without Mg++ affect the renin release. No stabilization was observed by Mg-ATP and Mg-GTP in the purified granule preparations. The results suggest the importance of the cleavage of the terminal phosphate in the stabilization process. When the granules prepared at 300 mOsm/kg were first kept at hyperosmotic medium (range 300-1650 mOsm/kg) and then moved back to 300 mOsm/kg, the granules tend to lyse the more the greater was the reduction of the osmolality. The granules were more stable in isotonic sucrose than in isotonic ionic medium.

Effects of Ca2+ and calmodulin on cyclic nucleotide metabolism in neurosecretosomes isolated from ox neurohypophyses

In neurosecretosomes, isolated from ox neurohypophyses, both guanylate and adenylate cyclase activity was shown to be predominantly membrane-bound. Membrane-bound adenylate cyclase was inhibited by increasing the ionized calcium concentration from 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M, but was stimulated by calmodulin in the presence of 10(-7) M and 10(-5) M ionized calcium. In contrast, neither calcium ions nor calmodulin affected the activity of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase. Soluble cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities increased with increasing ionized calcium concentration (10(-7) M to 10(-3) M). At 10(-7) M ionized calcium concentration, both soluble phosphodiesterase activities were stimulated by calmodulin. Both the membrane-bound phosphodiesterase activities were inhibited by a high ionized calcium concentration (10(-3) M) and not affected by calmodulin.

Isolation and characterization of secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses

A procedure is described for the isolation of secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses by differential centrifugation followed by density gradient centrifugation on iso-osmolal gradients of percoll/sucrose. Only negligible contamination of the secretory vesicle fraction with markers for mitochondria, microsomes and plasma membranes could be detected. The amount of Ca2-ATPase in the isolated neurohypophysial secretory vesicles was of the same low order of magnitude as that of (Na, K)-ATPase. Thin-section electromicrographs confirmed the high purity of the isolated secretory vesicle fractions, In freeze-fracture electronmicrographs, vesicle fusion was demonstrated after incubation with Ca2. As shown in dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and subsequent autoradiography secretory vesicles exhibited an endogenous phosphorylation activity. The secretory vesicles contained an average of 23.1 microgram vasopressin/mg of protein. On incubation in media differing in ionic strength, pH and Ca2 concentration the vesicles were stable for at least 1 h.

Fusion of isolated myoblast plasma membranes. An approach to the mechanism

Fusion of plasma membranes isolated from myoblasts grown in culture has been investigated. 1. Membrane fusion was specifically dependent of Ca2+ at physiological concentrations. However, at higher concentrations of cations, fusion could be triggered not only by Ca2+, but by Mg2+ and Sr2+ as well. 2. The amount of fusion was directly proportional to temperature. 3. Fusion was found to depend on the state of maturation of the myoblast membranes. 4. Experiments with chemically and enzymatically modified membranes and with membranes derived from myoblasts grown in the presence of inhibitors of protein biosynthesis suggest the participation of proteinaceous membrane components in the fusion mechanism.

Particle segregation in chromaffin granule membranes by forced physical contact

Bovine chromaffin granules were exposed to different isotonic non-ionic and ionic solutions (sucrose; Ca2+- and Mg2+-free phosphate-buffered saline; Tris-HCl + NaCl; Ca2+- and Mg2+-free phosphate-buffered saline + sucrose; Tris-HCl + sucrose) at pH 7 and then frozen either in suspension or as firm pellets. Freezing was performed without prefixation or antifreeze treatments either by 'standard' techniques (approx. 1 mm3 suspended or pelleted material on gold specimen supports dipped into liquid Freon) or with increased cooling rates by spraying suspensions into liquid propane ('spray-freezing'). Regardless of the freezing method, membrane-intercalated particles were always randomly distributed when chromaffin granules were frozen in suspension. In contrast, forced physical contact between granules produced by centrifugation (12000 X g, 25 min) provoked dispersal of membrane-intercalated particles, but only in the presence of ions. Sucrose or EDTA in an ionic environment had no inhibitory effect. The following conclusions are derived: (1) Even below the reported phase transition region particle clustering is possible. (2) Chromaffin granule membranes are not liable to thermotropic segregation of membrane-intercalated particles. (3) Although the low freezing rates of 'standard' freezing techniques produce large-scale segregation artefacts (by which suspended chromaffin granules are pushed together within the segregated solute) this does not result in intramembraneous particle segregation. (4) Forced physical contact produces a Ca2+-independent particle segregation, but only when repulsive electrostatic forces of membrane components are partially screened in an ionic environment. (5) This does not invalidate results obtained by others, showing Ca2+-mediated chromaffin granules agglomeration and segregation of membrane-intercalated particles, but it might indicate the occurrence of another, not directly Ca2+-dependent particle segregation mechanism in a prefusional stage of close membrane-to-membrane contact during exocytosis.

Fusion of secretory vesicles isolated from rat liver

Secretory vesicles isolated from rat liver were found to fuse after exposure to Ca2+. Vesicle fusion is characterized by the occurrence of twinned vesicles with a continuous cleavage plane between two vesicles in freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The number of fused vesicles increases with increasing Ca2+-concentrations and is half maximal around 10(-6)M. Other divalent cations (Ba2+, Sr2+, and Mg2+) were ineffective. Mg2+ inhibits Ca2+-induced fusion. Therefore, the fusion of secretory vesicles in vitro is Ca2+ specific and exhibits properties similar to the exocytotic process of various secretory cells. Various substances affecting secretion in vivo (microtubular inhibitors, local anesthetics, ionophores) were tested for their effect on membrane fusion in our system. The fusion of isolated secretory vesicles from liver was found to differ from that of pure phospholipid membranes in its temperature dependence, in its much lower requirement for Ca2+, and in its Ca2+-specificity. Chemical and enzymatic modifcations of the vesicle membrane indicate that glycoproteins may account for these differences.