Biogenesis of Weibel-Palade bodies

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2002 Aug;13(4):313-24. doi: 10.1016/s1084-9521(02)00061-7.

Abstract

Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are the lysosome-related secretory organelles of endothelial cells. Their content protein von Willebrand factor, plays a key role in haemostasis, whilst P-selectin in the membranes is critical in the initiation of inflammation. Biogenesis of these rod-shaped structures is driven by von Willebrand factor, since its heterologous expression leads to formation of organelles morphologically indistinguishable from bona fide WPBs. The two main membrane proteins of WPBs, CD63 and P-selectin, have complex itineraries controlled largely by cytoplasmic targeting signals. We are only just beginning to understand the way in which these three proteins come together to form mature WPBs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Tetraspanin 30
  • Weibel-Palade Bodies / physiology*
  • von Willebrand Factor / genetics*
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD63 protein, human
  • P-Selectin
  • Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Tetraspanin 30
  • von Willebrand Factor