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Immunolocalization of synexin (annexin VII) in adrenal chromaffin granules and chromaffin cells: evidence for a dynamic role in the secretory process

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Summary

Synexin (annexin VII) is a Ca2+- and phospholid-binding protein which has been proposed to play a role in Ca2+-dependent membrane fusion processes. Using a monoclonal antibody against synexin, Mab 10E7, and immunogold, we carried out a semiquantitative localization study of synexin in bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin granules, and in resting and nicotine-stimulated adrenal chromaffin cells. Isolated chromaffin granules contained very little synexin, whereas chromaffin granules aggregated with synexin (24 μg/mg) and Ca2+ (1 mM) clearly showed synexin-associated immunogold particles in the vicinity of the granule membrane (1.88 gold particles per granule profile). In isolated, cultured adrenal chromaffin cells, synexin was present in the nucleus (5.5 particles/μm2) and in the cytosol (5.3 particles/μm2), but mainly around the granule membrane in the granular cell area (11.7 particles/μm2). During the active phase of cholinergically stimulated catecholamine secretion, the amount of synexin label was reduced by 33% in the nucleus, by 23% in the cytosol, and by 51% in the granule area. The plasma membrane contained a small amount of synexin, which did not significantly change upon stimulation of the cells. We conclude that synexin is involved in the secretory process in chromaffin cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Biology and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Gemma A. J. Kuijpers, George Lee & Harvey B. Pollard

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  1. Gemma A. J. Kuijpers
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  2. George Lee
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  3. Harvey B. Pollard
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Kuijpers, G.A.J., Lee, G. & Pollard, H.B. Immunolocalization of synexin (annexin VII) in adrenal chromaffin granules and chromaffin cells: evidence for a dynamic role in the secretory process. Cell Tissue Res 269, 323–330 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319624

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319624

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