Imaging the assembly and disassembly kinetics of cis-SNARE complexes on native plasma membranes

FEBS Lett. 2008 Oct 15;582(23-24):3563-8. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.08.040. Epub 2008 Sep 24.

Abstract

Mild sonication of eukaryotic cells produces native plasma membrane sheets that retain their docked organelles, cytoskeleton structures and cytoplasmic complexes. While the delicate organization of membranous protein complexes remains undisturbed, their inner plasmalemmel leaflet can be rapidly exposed to bathing solutions, enabling specific biochemical manipulations. Here, we apply this system to track membrane-biochemistry kinetics. We monitor soluble NSF-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly and disassembly on the plasma membrane at high time resolution. The results suggest two-phase kinetics for the assembly process and dependence of the disassembly kinetics on both N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) and soluble NSF-attachment protein (alpha-SNAP) concentrations.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins / chemistry
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats
  • SNARE Proteins / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • SNARE Proteins
  • N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins
  • Nsf protein, rat