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The study of membrane traffic in reconstituted cell-free systems has generated an unprecedented amount of new information on the biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of membrane-based molecular events that underly normal and abnormal cellular function. Many of the individual steps have now been isolated and dissected in simple systems that permit detailed molecular analyses of transport mechanisms and their regulation. Reconstituted events of intercompartment transport include inter-membrane recognition, and controlled membrane fusion-fission reactions. Among the many advances is the growi ng awareness of a remarkabl e evolutionary conservation of many of the components involved in the many steps of membrane traffic, this realization has accelerated greatly the pace of progress in the field. This book provides a collection of participant contributions from the 1992 Summer Research Conference, "Mol ecul ar Mechani sms of Membrane Traffi c, " jointly sponsored with NATO by the American Society of Cell Biology. The conference was held May 9-13, at the Airlie Conference Center in the Virginia countryside, near Warrenton. The conference was attended by 158 scientists. A unique feature was the high proportion of young scientists among the participants. Approximately 65% were students, postdoctoral fe 11 ows and young investigators. Each attendee contri buted to the conference with either a pl atform or poster presentation.