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PMID: 15366419 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

The energetics of membrane fusion from binding, through hemifusion, pore formation, and pore enlargement.

The Journal of membrane biology ·Vol. 199 ·No. 1 ·2004-05-01 ·Pages 1-14

Cohen FS, Melikyan GB

Abstract

The main steps of viral membrane fusion are local membrane approach, hemifusion, pore formation, and pore enlargement. Experiments and theoretical analyses have helped determine the relative energies required for each step. Key protein structures and conformational changes of the fusion process have been identified. The physical deformations of monolayer bending and lipid tilt have been applied to the steps of membrane fusion. Experiment and theory converge to strongly indicate that, contrary to former conceptions, the fusion process is progressively more energetically difficult: hemifusion has a relatively low energy barrier, pore formation is more energy-consuming, and pore enlargement is the most difficult to achieve.

MeSH Terms
Cell Membrane/metabolism Lipid Bilayers/metabolism Lipid Metabolism Membrane Fusion/physiology Membrane Lipids/metabolism Models, Theoretical Viral Fusion Proteins/metabolism
Chemicals
Lipid Bilayers Membrane Lipids Viral Fusion Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Cohen F S
Rush University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, 1653 W Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. [email protected]
Melikyan G B
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of membrane biology
Abbr.
J Membr Biol
ISSN
0022-2631
DOI
10.1007/s00232-004-0669-8
Email
[email protected]
Published
2004-05-01
Pages
1-14
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0211301
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM054787 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM-27367 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM-54787 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s00232-004-0669-8 View journal details
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