"Frustrated Exocytosis"--a novel phenomenon: membrane fusion without contents release, followed by detachment and reattachment of dense core vesicles in Paramecium cells.

The lipophilic fluorescent dye, FM1-43, as now frequently used to stain cell membranes and to monitor exo-endocytosis and membrane recycling, induces a cortical [Ca²⁺]_i transient and exocytosis of dense core vesicles (``trichocysts'') in Paramecium cells, when applied at usual concentrations (≤10 μm) in presence of extracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> ([Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>o</sub>= 50 μm). When [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>o</sub> is kept at 30 nm (<[Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sup>rest</sup><sub>i</sub>), in about one third of the population of extrudable trichocysts docked at the cell membrane, FM1-43 induces membrane fusion, visible by FM1-43 fluorescence of the vesicle membrane. However, in this system extrusion of secretory contents cannot occur in absence of any sufficient Ca<sup>2+</sup><sub>o</sub>. Upon readdition of Ca<sup>2+</sup><sub>o</sub> or some other appropriate Me<sup>2+</sup><sub>o</sub> at 90 μm, secretory contents can be released (complete exocytosis). Resulting ghosts formed in presence of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Sr<sup>2+</sup> or Mn<sup>2+</sup> are vesicular, but when formed in presence of Mg<sup>2+</sup>, for reasons to be elucidated, they are tubular, though both types are endocytosed and lose their FM1-43 stain. In contrast, in presence of [Mg<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>o</sub>= 3 mm (which inhibits contents release), the exocytotic openings reseal and intact trichocysts with labeled membranes and with still condensed contents are detached from the cell surface (``frustrated exocytosis'') within ∼15 min. They undergo cytoplasmic streaming and saltatory redocking, with a half-time of ∼35 min. During this time, the population of redocked trichocysts amenable to exocytosis upon a second stimulus increases with a half-time of ∼35 min. Therefore, acquirement of competence for exocytotic membrane fusion may occur with only a small delay after docking, and this maturation process may last only a short time. A similar number of trichocysts can be detached by merely increasing [Mg²⁺]_o to 3 mm, or by application of the anti-calmodulin drug, R21547 (calmidazolium). Essentially we show (i) requirement of calmodulin and appropriate [Me²⁺] to maintain docking sites in a functional state, (ii) requirement of Ca²⁺_o or of some other Me²⁺_o to drive membrane resealing during exo-endocytosis, (iii) requirement of an ``empty'' signal to go to the regular endocytotic pathway (with fading fluorescence), and (iv) occurrence of a ``filled'' signal for trichocysts to undergo detachment and redocking (with fluorescence) after ``frustrated exocytosis''. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]