Intracellular membrane fusion events require a general protein machinery that functions in vesicular traffic and in assembly and maintenance of organelles. An array of cytosolic and integral membrane proteins are currently identified, and in conjunction with ongoing detailed structural studies, rapid progress is made in understanding basic features of the overall mechanism of the fusion machinery, but above all a proper appreciation of its enormous complexity. Thus a highly sophisticated level of regulation of the different steps involved in tethering, docking and merging itself is apparent. Apart from the relevance of protein–protein interactions, also a role of distinct lipids is gradually emerging, particularly in fusion. However, although various suggestions have been made recently, largely based upon in vitro studies, the identity of the actual fusion factor(s) remains to be determined.
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Research Article|
December 01 2000
On the Mechanism of Intracellular Membrane Fusion: In Search of the Genuine Fusion Factor
Eva-Isabelle Pécheur;
Eva-Isabelle Pécheur
1Department of Membrane Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Atonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV Groningen, The Netherlands
2Institute Pasteur, Lille, France
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Olaf Maier;
Olaf Maier
1Department of Membrane Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Atonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV Groningen, The Netherlands
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Dick Hoekstra
Dick Hoekstra
1Department of Membrane Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Atonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV Groningen, The Netherlands
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1573-4935
Print ISSN: 0144-8463
© 2000 Plenum Publishing Corporation
2000
Biosci Rep (2000) 20 (6): 613–631.
Citation
Eva-Isabelle Pécheur, Olaf Maier, Dick Hoekstra; On the Mechanism of Intracellular Membrane Fusion: In Search of the Genuine Fusion Factor. Biosci Rep 1 December 2000; 20 (6): 613–631. doi: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010419223143
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