Access

Insight

Nature 438, 590-596 (1 December 2005) | doi:10.1038/nature04396; Published online 30 November 2005

Review Article Membrane curvature and mechanisms of dynamic cell membrane remodelling

Harvey T. McMahon1 & Jennifer L. Gallop1

Top

Membrane curvature is no longer seen as a passive consequence of cellular activity but an active means to create membrane domains and to organize centres for membrane trafficking. Curvature can be dynamically modulated by changes in lipid composition, the oligomerization of curvature scaffolding proteins and the reversible insertion of protein regions that act like wedges in membranes. There is an interplay between curvature-generating and curvature-sensing proteins during vesicle budding. This is seen during vesicle budding and in the formation of microenvironments. On a larger scale, membrane curvature is a prime player in growth, division and movement.

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Bending the membrane

Nature Cell Biology News and Views (01 Oct 2002)

Cell biology Lipid membranes shape up

Nature News and Views (09 Sep 1999)

Membrane transport The making of a vesicle

Nature News and Views (26 Sep 2002)

Cell biology Helices sculpt membrane

Nature News and Views (27 Oct 2005)

See all 11 matches for News And Views