Biogenesis of ER-to-Golgi transport carriers: complex roles of COPII in ER export

Trends Cell Biol. 2004 Feb;14(2):57-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2003.12.001.

Abstract

It is widely believed that membrane traffic occurs by vesicular transport between successive compartments of the secretory pathway. Coat complexes function to collect cargo from donor membranes and deform them to generate transport vesicles with a diameter of 60-80 nm. Recent data argue in favour of a new model for export of secretory cargo from the endoplasmic reticulum, in which tubular extensions are protruded and subsequently matured into independent ER-to-Golgi transport carriers. Here, we examine the evidence for this controversial hypothesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COP-Coated Vesicles / metabolism*
  • COP-Coated Vesicles / ultrastructure
  • Cell Compartmentation / physiology
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Golgi Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Membranes / ultrastructure
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Microtubules / ultrastructure
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein Transport / physiology