All eukaryotes compartmentalize biomolecules within membrane bound organelles. The transport of these biomolecules (particularly proteins) to their final destination is dependant upon proper vesicle formation and transport. Many basic biological processes are thought to be controlled through vesicles, ranging from insulin signaling to memory development. Further, a number of diseases are manifested through the endomembrane system, including Alzheimer's disease and the pathogenesis of certain microorganisms. The basic mechanisms involved in vesicle trafficking appear to be conserved between yeast, plants and animals. The purpose of this proposal is to study the uncharacterized vesicle-dependent carboxy-terminal propeptide (CTPP) pathway to the protein storage vacuole (PSV) in plants. The proposed experiments will be performed in Arabidopsis thaliana and lead to the identification of the molecular machinery required for this trafficking process. Results from these experiments will further our understanding of vesicle mediated trafficking mechanisms in eukaryotes.
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