Collection 

Membrane fusion

Protein-mediated membrane fusion is an essential, common denominator for viral infection, fertilization, intracellular protein trafficking, neurotransmission, hormone release, developmental cell-cell fusion, and autophagy. This Collection will shed light on the mechanisms of membrane fusion and will include studies in areas such as: the structure and the function of fusogens and auxiliary regulators, lipid dynamics, bilayer remodelling, fusion intermediates, and fusion pore dynamics.

Computer rendering of a bilayer of yellow lipid molecules, making up a cell membrane, against a black background

Editors

 

Guest Editor Yeon-Kyun ShinYeon-Kyun Shin is a Professor of Biophysics at Iowa State University, USA. His lab uses spin labelling electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and single molecule techniques to investigate the structure and the dynamics of SNARE complexes, to uncover fusion intermediates, and to observe the real-time dynamics of the fusion pore. Highlights are the discoveries of a SNARE four-helix bundle with EPR in 1998 and the hemifusion intermediate in intracellular membrane fusion in 2005. Prof Shin has been an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports since 2016.