Membrane_dynamics Flashcards
Three aspects of membrane dynamics
Membrane fusion, fission, and curvature
Three classes of membrane fusion and an example of each
Cell-cell fusion (sperm-egg), host-pathogen (viral infection) and intracellular fusion (neurosecretion/exo-endo cytosis)
Steps in membrane fusion (4)
- Adhesion (targeting)
- Stalk intermediate
- Hemifusion
- Fusion pore (opening)
How are different stages of membrane fusion assayed? (2)
Content dye, lipid markers
What dictates specificity during membrane fusion?
For viruses- HA1, binds to sialic acid on host cell
For vesicles - Rab GTPases, tethers, SNAREs
Methods to study fusion
- Mixing of fluorescent dyes
2.
How is the repulsive force of the two bilayers overcome?
- By the force of fusogenic proteins and their interacting factors (ie SNAREs and NSF/SM/SNAP)
- Charge gradient?
What is the nature of the hole that opens between the two bilayers?
Up for debate - whether it is formed by lipids only, lipids+SNAREs, more study needed
How is membrane fusion regulated?
In neurosecretion - Ca and Ca binding proteins, activates docked synaptic vesicles
Could also be fusion protein modification, synthesis or degradation, or protein targeting
What defines influenza virus subtype?
HA fusion protein
Is pH within endosomes very high or very low, or in between?
Very low
What environmental factor triggers HA conformational change?
pH change, allows for extension of coiled coil structure
HIV entry mechanism
Attaches to CD4, binds chemokine receptor, membrane insertion, conformational change, fusion, and entry of viral nucleocapsid
Antiviral drug strategy for HIV (enfuvirtide)
Hairpin inhibitor that prevents conformational change of fusion proteins
Two types of SNARES and an example of each
T-SNARES (target membrane)
- syntaxin
V-SNARES (vesicle)
- VAMP