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Neurosecretory cells without neurosecretion: evidence of an independently regulated trait of the cell phenotype
Author(s) -
Malosio M. L.,
Benfante R.,
Racchetti G.,
Borgonovo B.,
Rosa P.,
Meldolesi J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7793.1999.t01-1-00043.x
Subject(s) - neurosecretion , exocytosis , biology , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , population , secretion , genetics , gene , endocrinology , medicine , environmental health
Neurosecretion competence is a fundamental property that enables differentiated neurones and professional neurosecretory cells to store neurotransmitters and hormones in specialized organelles, the synaptic‐like vesicles and dense granules, and to release them by regulated exocytosis. In our laboratory, the study of rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) clones that fail to express the above organelles or any other components involved in neurosecretion, whilst maintaining most of the general markers of the parental population, has served to demonstrate that this trait is controlled independently from the rest of the phenotype. The present review focuses on recent advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing neurosecretion competence. Moreover, the opportunities that such neurosecretion‐defective PC12 clones offer for the investigation of new aspects of regulated exocytosis and the localization of its components are summarized.