Protein sorting and secretion granule formation in regulated secretory cells

Abstract

Formation of secretion granules in regulated secretory cells involves packaging a subject of proteins undergoing intracellular transport into specific vesicular carriers that function in stimulus-dependent exocytosis. Recent findings suggest that immature granules are a site of passive sorting, involving condensation of regulated secretory proteins. Proteins that are not condensed are stored to a lesser degree and are enriched in unstimulated, constitutive-like secretion. While these observations have helped to distinguish possible mechanisms of secretory protein sorting, there are only recent hints about the sorting processes that may be required to create the regulated secretory carrier membranes.