Coated-vesicle formation in vitro: conflicting results using different assays

Cell-free systems provide essential tools for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying complex cellular processes such as vesicular transport. The biochemical utility of these model systems is strengthened by assays that allow rapid, quantitative detection of the events being studied. Two model systems have recently been developed to reconstitute coated-vesicle budding, and two different biochemical assays are used to detect this event. Striking differences in the biochemical requirements for 'coated-vesicle budding' are detected by these two assays, suggesting that two distinct events are being measured. These findings have wide implications for the use of cell-free assay systems in cell biology.