Role of Microtubules in Fusion of Post-Golgi Vesicles to the Plasma Membrane

• DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e02-08-0500
• Publication Date: 2003-04-09T18:54:47Z
• Authors: Jan Schmoranzer; Sanford M. Simon
• Keywords: Vesicle fusion

Biosynthetic cargo is transported away from the Golgi in vesicles via microtubules. In cell periphery are believed to engage actin and then dock fusion sites at plasma membrane. Using dual-color total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we observed that microtubules extended within 100 nm of membrane post-Golgi remained on up membrane, even as initiated. Disruption eliminated tubular shapes altered events: required multiple fusions deliver all their contrast, effects disrupting behavior were subtle. We conclude microtubules, rather than filaments, cytoskeletal elements which until they fuse