[Molecular mechanisms of exocytosis]

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of small synaptic vesicle (SSV) membrane proteins and genetic studies of yeast secretion mutants led to the identification of an exocytotic fusion complex. The Sŏllner-Rothman SNARE hypothesis has led to remarkable progresses in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release, endocrine and exocrine cell secretion.