Greasing membrane fusion and fission machineries

Abstract

Biological membrane fusion is a local-point event, extremely fast, and under strict control. Proteins are responsible for the mutual recognition of the fusion partners and for the initiation of biomembrane fusion, and thus determine where and when fusion occurs. However, the central event during membrane fusion is the merger of two membranes, which requires a transient reorganization of membrane lipids into highly curved fusion intermediates. This review focuses on the potential role of lipids in the generation of membrane curvature, and thus in the regulation of membrane fusion and fission.