Function suggests nano-structure: electrophysiology supports that granule membranes play dice

Abstract

Cellular communication depends on membrane fusion mechanisms. SNARE proteins play a fundamental role in all intracellular fusion reactions associated with the life cycle of secretory vesicles, such as vesicle–vesicle and vesicle plasma membrane fusion at the porosome base in the cell plasma membrane. We present growth and elimination (G&E), a birth and death model for the investigation of granule growth, its evoked and spontaneous secretion and their information content. Using a statistical mechanics approach in which SNARE components are viewed as interacting particles, the G&E model provides a simple ‘nano-machine’ of SNARE self-aggregation behind granule growth and secretion. Results from experimental work, mathematical calculations and statistical modelling suggest that for vesicle growth a minimal aggregation of three SNAREs is required, while for the evoked secretion one SNARE is enough. Furthermore, the required number of SNARE aggregates (which varies between cell types and is nearly proportional to the square root of the mean granule diameter) affects and is statistically identifiable from the size distributions of spontaneous and evoked secreted granules. The new statistical mechanics approach to granule fusion is bound to have a significant changing effect on the investigation of the pathophysiology of secretory mechanisms and methodologies for the investigation of secretion.