Recent Advance on the Function and Structure of the Exocyst in the Vesicle Traffic and Secretion

The exocyst as a conserved eight-subunit complex has been shown to play a central role in several aspects of exocyto- sis and vesicle traffic,especially in the process of vesicle tethering.Recent progress on the localization,function and structure of the exo- cyst were summarized,and the interactions of the components and the assembly mechanism of the exocyst were discussed systematically in this review.Recent crystallographic and electron microscopy studies provide important insight and evidence on the assembly and dis- assembly mechanism.New advance on the function and structure of the exocyst is valuable for further understanding the action mecha- nism of the exocyst in the vesicle traffic and secretion.