Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 543-556 (July 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2417
Mechanisms of membrane fusion: disparate players and common principles
Sascha Martens1 & Harvey T. McMahon1 About the authors
Abstract
Membrane fusion can occur between cells, between different intracellular compartments, between intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane and between lipid-bound structures such as viral particles and cellular membranes. In order for membranes to fuse they must first be brought together. The more highly curved a membrane is, the more fusogenic it becomes. We discuss how proteins, including SNAREs, synaptotagmins and viral fusion proteins, might mediate close membrane apposition and induction of membrane curvature to drive diverse fusion processes. We also highlight common principles that can be derived from the analysis of the role of these proteins.
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Author affiliations
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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
Email: hmm@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk Email: martens@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
Published online 21 May 2008
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