Tight docking of membranes before fusion represents a metastable state with unique properties

Proteins need to overcome energy barriers to induce intermediate steps in membrane fusion. Using lipid vesicles in which progression to hemifusion is arrested, the authors show that the metastable intermediate is enhanced by divalent cations and is characterized by the absence of proteins and local...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Agata Witkowska, Leonard P. Heinz, Helmut Grubmüller, Reinhard Jahn
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:
Q
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/901cfa95a349420482eaf82f901e41d0
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
Descripción
Sumario:Proteins need to overcome energy barriers to induce intermediate steps in membrane fusion. Using lipid vesicles in which progression to hemifusion is arrested, the authors show that the metastable intermediate is enhanced by divalent cations and is characterized by the absence of proteins and local membrane thickening. Simulations reveal that thickening is induced by dehydration of the membrane surface.