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Exocytosis

Definition

noun, plural: exocytoses

The process in which the cell releases materials to the outside by discharging them as membrane-bounded vesicles passing through the cell membrane.


Supplement

The materials excreted by a cell could be a waste product or function as a regulatory molecule.

The five general steps involved in exocytosis are:
Vesicle trafficking - involves steps required to translocate the vesicle containing the material over a significant distance.
Vesicle tethering - tethering involves links over distances of more than about half the diameter of a vesicle from a given membrane surface (>25 nm).
Vesiscle docking - refers to the holding of two membranes within a bilayer's distance of one another (<5-10 nm).
Vesicle priming - include all of the molecular rearrangements and ATP-dependent protein and lipid modifications that take place after initial docking.
Vesicle fusion - driven by SNARE proteins, this is the process of merging the vesicle membrane with the target one resulting in release of large biomolecules in the extracellular space.


Word origin: exo: Gk, comb. form of éxō outside + cyte: G. kutos, hollow vessel + -osis: expressing state or condition.
Related forms: exocytose (verb), exocytotic (adjective).
Related phrases: regulated exocytosis, neuronal exocytosis.

Compare: endocytosis.
See also: plasma membrane.


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Amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein degradation products

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by Anonymous
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Re: Campbell and Reece 8th edition

... I mean how would the signal reach the receptor if they are on the INSIDE??? Or are the ER membrane, vesicle and Golgi body something to do with exocytosis??? thank you

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by Stephen1993
Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:16 am
 
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Topic: Campbell and Reece 8th edition
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Re: Campbell and Reece 8th edition

... of the ER membrane, it will also be on the inside of the vesicle and Golgi membrane, but it will be on the outside of the plasma membrane after exocytosis occurs. Think about how are the membranes oriented ;) http://www-bioc.rice.edu/bios576/membrane/Membrane_Fusion.jpg State ...

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by JackBean
Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:10 am
 
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Re: Campbell and Reece 8th edition

... of the ER membrane, it will also be on the inside of the vesicle and Golgi membrane, but it will be on the outside of the plasma membrane after exocytosis occurs. Could you please explain what this means?? thank you

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Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:45 am
 
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