Biomaterial Database

Inhibition of secretory granule discharge during exocytosis in sea urchin eggs by polymer solutions. 1987

M Whitaker, and J Zimmerberg

Department of Physiology, University College London.

1. We have investigated the effects of the osmotic pressure exerted by polymer solutions on exocytosis in sea urchin eggs. 2. Exocytosis is prevented by including a variety of polymers of different chemical composition and molecular weight in the sea water surrounding the eggs. Inhibition is complete at a polymer osmolality of 250 mosmol/kg. 3. The increase in membrane capacitance which occurs during exocytosis and which corresponds to the fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane is not substantially altered by inhibitory concentrations of polymer. 4. In the absence of the ions present in sea water, these polymers inhibit exocytosis at an osmolality of 950 mosmol/kg. 5. Calcium, magnesium and sodium ions reduce the polymer osmolality required to prevent exocytosis. 6. A comparison of the effects of monovalent and divalent ions indicates that the divalent ions bind to and stabilize the secretory granule contents. 7. These results demonstrate that polymers prevent exocytosis by preventing dispersal of the granule contents once fusion of the secretory granule with the plasma-lemma has occurred. The ions present in sea water do not promote dispersal, rather, they hinder it. The contribution of ionic fluxes to granule swelling during exocytosis is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009994	Osmolar Concentration	The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. Osmolality is expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent.	Ionic Strength,Osmolality,Osmolarity,Concentration, Osmolar,Concentrations, Osmolar,Ionic Strengths,Osmolalities,Osmolar Concentrations,Osmolarities,Strength, Ionic,Strengths, Ionic
D010063	Ovum	A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION.	Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D011108	Polymers	Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS).	Polymer
D002413	Cations, Divalent	Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms with a valence of plus 2, which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Divalent Cations
D002414	Cations, Monovalent	Positively charged atoms, radicals or group of atoms with a valence of plus 1, which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Monovalent Cation,Cation, Monovalent,Monovalent Cations
D003594	Cytoplasmic Granules	Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane.	Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D003864	Depression, Chemical	The decrease in a measurable parameter of a PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS, including cellular, microbial, and plant; immunological, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, digestive, neural, musculoskeletal, ocular, and skin physiological processes; or METABOLIC PROCESS, including enzymatic and other pharmacological processes, by a drug or other chemical.	Chemical Depression,Chemical Depressions,Depressions, Chemical
D005089	Exocytosis	Cellular release of material within membrane-limited vesicles by fusion of the vesicles with the CELL MEMBRANE.