Membrane Tension Inhibits Lipid Mixing by Increasing the Hemifusion Stalk Energy.

ABSTRACT: Fusion of biological membranes is fundamental in various physiological events. The fusion process involves several intermediate stages with energy barriers that are tightly dependent on the mechanical and physical properties of the system, one of which is membrane tension. As previously established, the late stages of fusion, including hemifusion diaphragm and pore expansions, are favored by membrane tension. However, a current understanding of how the energy barrier of earlier fusion stages is affected by membrane tension is lacking. Here, we apply a newly developed experimental approach combining micropipette-aspirated giant unilamellar vesicles and optically trapped membrane-coated beads, revealing that membrane tension inhibits lipid mixing. We show that lipid mixing is 6 times slower

SUBMITTER: Shendrik P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7615193 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature