Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How can a ligand trigger the secretion of proteins from a secretory vesicle?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Golgi apparatus
A membrane-bound organelle of eukaryotic cells, the Golgi apparatus is made up of a series of flattened, stacked pouches called cisternae that function as a series of compartments that progressively refine and direct cellular products to their proper destinations. .
In the context of the Golgi apparatus, the secretion of proteins via exocytosis can be a regulated process. When such regulation is required, a ligand must bind to a specific receptor on the cell membrane. This binding event acts as a trigger that initiates the fusion of the secretory vesicle with the cell membrane, thereby allowing the protein contents to be released into the extracellular environment.1