Membrane-Fusogen Distance Is Critical for Efficient Coiled-Coil-Peptide-Mediated Liposome Fusion.

ABSTRACT: We have developed a model system for membrane fusion that utilizes lipidated derivatives of a heterodimeric coiled-coil pair dubbed E₃ (EIAALEK)₃ and K₃ (KIAALKE)₃. In this system, peptides are conjugated to a lipid anchor via a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer, and this contribution studies the influence of the PEG spacer length, coupled with the type of lipid anchor, on liposome-liposome fusion. The effects of these modifications on peptide secondary structure, their interactions with liposomes, and their ability to mediate fusion were studied using a variety of different content mixing experiments and CD spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate the asymmetric role of the peptides in the fusion process because alterations to the PEG spacer lengt

SUBMITTER: Daudey GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5666511 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature