Exposure of an antigen of chromaffin granules on cell surface during exocytosis.

The synthesis rate of the membrane proteins of the catecholamine-storing vesicles (chromaffin granules) of the adrenal medulla is lower than that of the secretory proteins of the contents. Based on these results we proposed that after exocytosis the membranes of chromaffin granules are retrieved and are re-used for several secretion cycles (see also ref. 4). This concept of re-use of granule membranes has been further strengthened by the finding that exogenous markers which are taken up by secretory cells during stimulation can be traced to the Golgi region and to immature secretory organelles. However, one basic question remains: are the membranes of secretory organelles specifically and completely removed from the plasma membrane and if so, how fast is this process? By using an antiserum against a membrane glycoprotein of chromaffin granules we have now obtained quantitative data which demonstrate that during exocytosis this antigen becomes exposed on the cell surface and disappears again to a large degree within 30 min.