A small GTP-binding protein dissociates from synaptic vesicles during exocytosis (original) (raw)

Nature volume 349, pages 79–81 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

LOW-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins are strong candidates for regulators of membrane traffic1–3. In yeast, mutations in the sec4 or ypt1 genes encoding small GTP-binding proteins inhibit constitutive membrane flow at the plasma membrane or Golgi complex, respectively4–6. It has been suggested that membrane fusion–fission events are regulated by cycling of small GTP-binding proteins between a membrane-bound and free state7, but although most of these small proteins are found in both soluble and tightly membrane-bound forms, there is no direct evidence to support such cycling. In rat brain a small GTP-binding protein, rab3 A, is exclusively associated with synaptic vesicles, the secretory organelles of nerve terminals8,9. Here we use isolated nerve terminals to study the fate of rab3A during synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We find that rab3A dissociates quantitatively from the vesicle membrane after Ca2+-dependent exocytosis and that this dissociation is partially reversible during recovery after stimulation. These results are direct evidence for an association–dissociation cycle of a small GTP-binding protein during traffic of its host membrane.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bourne, H. R. Cell 53, 669–671 (1988).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  2. Balch, W. E. J. biol. Chem. 264, 16965–16968 (1989).
    CAS Google Scholar
  3. Hall, A. Science 249, 635–640 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  4. Salminen, A. & Novick, P. J. Cell 49, 527–538 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  5. Segev, N., Mulholland, J. & Botstein, D. Cell 52, 915–924 (1988).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Schmitt, H. D., Puzicha, M. & Gallwitz, D. Cell 53, 635–647 (1988).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  7. Walworth, N. C., Goud, B., Kabcenell, A. K. & Novick, P. EMBO J. 8, 1685–1693 (1989).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Fischer von Mollard, G. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1988–1992 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  9. Mizoguchi, A. et al. J. biol. Chem. 265, 11872–11879 (1990).
    CAS Google Scholar
  10. Kelly, R. B. Neuron 1, 431–438 (1988).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. De Camilli, P. & Jahn, R. A. Rev. Physiol. 52, 625–645 (1990).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  12. Nicholls, D. G. & Sihra, T. S. Nature 321, 772–773 (1986).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  13. Nicholls, D. G., Sihra, T. S. & Sanchez-Prieto, J. J. Neurochem. 49, 50–57 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Jahn, R., Schiebler, W., Ouimet, C. & Greengard, P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 4137–4141 (1985).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  15. Wiedenmann, B. & Franke, W. W. Cell 41, 1017–1028 (1985).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  16. Heuser, J. E. & Reese, T. S. J. Cell Biol. 57, 315–344 (1973).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  17. Sasaki, T. et al. J. biol. Chem. 265, 2333–2337 (1990).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  18. Araki, S., Kikuchi, A., Hata, Y., Isomura, M. & Takai, Y. J. biol. Chem. 265, 13007–13015 (1990).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  19. Nicholls, D. G. Biochem. J. 170, 511–522 (1990).
    Article Google Scholar
  20. McMahon, H. T. & Nicholls, D. G. J. Neurochem. (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Reinhard Jahn: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Am Klopferspitz 18a, D-8033, Martinsried, Germany
    Gabriele Fischer von Mollard & Reinhard Jahn
  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75235, USA
    Thomas C. Südhof

Authors

  1. Gabriele Fischer von Mollard
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Thomas C. Südhof
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Reinhard Jahn
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

von Mollard, G., Südhof, T. & Jahn, R. A small GTP-binding protein dissociates from synaptic vesicles during exocytosis.Nature 349, 79–81 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/349079a0

Download citation

This article is cited by