SNAP-23 IS LOCATED IN THE BASOLATERAL PLASMA-MEMBRANE OF RAT PANCREATIC ACINAR-CELLS

The SNARE hypothesis proposes that specificity of exocytosis is regula ted by the appropriate interactions between the vesicle (v-) SNARE and the target membrane (t-) SNAREs. We show here that pancreatic acinar cells express the SNAP-25 t-SNARE homolog SNAP-23, and find that this t-SNARE is most highly concentrated on the basolateral plasma membrane while being expressed below detectable levels iu endocrine islets wit hin the same tissue. This is the first localization of SNAP-23 within a polarized tissue and suggests that this t-SNAREs may interact with s yntaxin-4 to mediate basolateral secretion. (C) 1997 Federation of Eur opean Biochemical Societies.