This research explores the molecular machinery that governs exocytic membrane fusion within cells, specifically focusing on the exocyst complex and its regulatory proteins. Scientists utilized advanced cryo-electron tomography and super-resolution microscopy to analyze how the exocyst interacts with SNARE proteins like Sec9 and Sec18 to facilitate vesicle transport. By engineering inducible depletion systems in yeast, the study examines the specific roles these proteins play in anchoring and fusing vesicles to the plasma membrane. The data includes AlphaFold3 predictions and quantitative imaging to map the physical organization and copy numbers of these protein assemblies. Ultimately, the work provides a high-resolution look at the kinetic mechanisms and structural transitions that drive vesicle secretion.

References:

• Puig-Tintó M, Ortiz S, Meek S, et al. Continuum architecture dynamics of vesicle tethering in exocytosis[J]. Cell, 2026.