Researchers at ITQB NOVA discovered that SARS-CoV-2 has two fusion peptides in its spike protein, necessary for entering cells. The peptides work together to initiate membrane fusion, a crucial step for the virus's entry. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for developing strategies to block the virus.
A new strategy remodels the cell membrane to convert ordinary macrophages into pathogen-targeting immune cells. Engineered macrophages successfully overcame limitations of conventional antimicrobial therapies, demonstrating improved bacterial recognition and elimination.
Emerging non-endocytic delivery strategies enable direct cytosolic delivery of proteins, nucleic acids, and gene-editing tools, providing new opportunities for biomedical therapies. The review discusses their application prospects in gene therapy, macromolecular drug delivery, and cellular engineering.
Researchers identify packing density as key factor affecting membrane elasticity, offering new insights into homeostasis and cellular behavior. This discovery has significant implications for drug delivery applications and the development of lifelike artificial cells.
A new class of zwitterionic phospholipids, DOPE-Cx, enhances the functional delivery of mRNA via lipid nanoparticles, overcoming endosomal escape and improving mRNA expression. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced therapeutic applications, including mRNA vaccines, cancer treatment, and protein replacement therapy.
Researchers at Rice University have uncovered new information about the structure of cholesterol molecules in cell membranes using Raman spectroscopy. The study sheds light on previously unknown structural variations and provides a simplified framework for analyzing membrane cholesterol chain structures.
The study reveals two distinct modes of endosomal fusion: homotypic fusion, where small vesicles fuse rapidly, and heterotypic fusion, where large vesicles absorb endosomes. Mathematical analysis and experiments suggest that actin dynamics plays a crucial role in promoting homotypic fusion.
Scientists developed a novel solvatochromic probe to study lipid membrane fluidity and its correlation with cellular functions. The new dye offers exceptional stability, low toxicity, and fluorescent properties, allowing real-time visualization of lipid membrane order during complex processes.
Scientists have synthesized proton-conductive membranes based on partially fluorinated aromatic ionomers, which exhibit high durability and ion conductivity. These membranes outperform existing ones in fuel-cell operation, chemical stability, and mechanical properties, paving the way for more powerful and affordable electric vehicles.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the controlled release of mucins and insulin by cells, with tetraspanin-8 acting as a gatekeeper. The regulated secretion is biphasic, involving rapid and slower releases of granules, which can be targeted to reset deregulated mucin and insulin secretion.
Researchers discovered a protein involved in membrane remodeling in cyanobacteria, structurally similar to eukaryotic membrane proteins, suggesting it may be the oldest known bacterial ancestor. The protein, SynDLP, was found to have structural properties that match those of eukaryotic dynamin.
Heidelberg researchers have identified key proteins that can prevent the formation of fusion pores, allowing viruses like influenza A and Ebola to be trapped in a lipid membrane. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for preventing infections with these highly infectious viruses.
Researchers found two Korean native plants' saponins inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells by blocking membrane fusion. These compounds show promise in treating COVID-19, especially for asymptomatic cases.
Scientists have elucidated the regulatory functions of Pan1p, a key player in late-stage clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The protein drives actin assembly and disassembly, facilitating vesicle internalization.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict the efficiency of nanoparticle delivery into cells, particularly in stem cells. They found that nanoparticles become trapped in bubble-like vesicles, preventing them from reaching their targets.
The Delta variant is the most infectious known to date due to its ability to fuse with cells quickly and efficiently. Researchers found that Delta's spike protein has a unique property that accounts for its transmissibility, making it a favorable target for next-generation vaccines and treatments.
Researchers have made the first direct observations of water in lipid bilayers used to model cell membrane fusion. The study provides new insights into diseases associated with disrupted cell fusion and could lead to treatments for degenerative diseases.
Researchers have developed a theoretical model describing the mechanical properties of lipid membranes, revealing how viruses infiltrate cells. The study highlights the importance of cell membrane elasticity and energy costs in viral fusion.
Research reveals fusion pores in cells have dynamic behavior, opening and closing rapidly, contrary to conventional wisdom. The number of SNARE proteins affects the pore's state, with more proteins leading to a mostly open state.
Researchers at Charité's NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence have identified a protein mechanism responsible for rapid signal transmission between nerve cells. The discovery, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveals that bridging by synaptotagmin allows high-speed transmission via synapse fusion.
A study led by Wei Guo has identified Sec3 as a key activator that speeds up the binding of SNAREs, allowing vesicles to fuse with the plasma membrane. The researchers used a combination of molecular biology and crystallography to understand the mechanism of exocytosis and have potential implications for endocrinology, neurotransmissio...
Researchers have found a mechanism that explains how cells transport cargo efficiently and selectively within their boundaries. The discovery reveals that flexibility in large tether proteins plays a crucial role in initiating the fusion process.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz identified IM30 as a protein that triggers membrane fusion, crucial for thylakoid membrane system formation and maintenance. This discovery provides a starting point for future research on membrane fusion mechanisms in chloroplasts and blue-green algae.
Researchers at KAIST have solved the mystery of how NSF disassembles a SNARE complex. They found that NSF requires only one round of ATP hydrolysis to unwind the complex, contrary to previous theories. This discovery sheds new light on membrane fusion and vesicle traffic in cells.
Recent Nobel Laureate Thomas C. Südhof presents a new model for neurotransmitter release, suggesting that SNARE proteins may not form a pore but instead physically force vesicles and axon membranes to fuse spontaneously.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a mechanism that helps explain how intracellular membranes fuse. They used purified yeast organelles to study the process and found that a tethering complex called HOPS plays a crucial role in activating SNARE proteins.
A study from Rice University and Italy's Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute has shed light on the biochemical workings of atlastin, a protein linked to HSP. The research suggests that atlastin plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of long nerve cells affected by HSP.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that brain cell communication relies on three copies of the 'linking bridge' or SNARE complex to enable rapid fusion of vesicles with membranes. This process allows for simultaneous signal transmission, which is crucial for cognitive functions and overall brain activity.
A new method of attack against the AIDS virus has been developed using a prevention system that stiffens cell membranes, making them impenetrable to the virus. This research, published in Chemistry & Biology, provides a novel focus on regulating cell membrane fluidity and preventing viral fusion.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered that hemifusion, a critical step in membrane fusion, allows vesicles to share membranes without releasing their contents. This stable state enables the rapid delivery of drugs to target cells by controlling the timing of fusion.
A novel method developed by Illinois researchers allows for the visualization of individual membrane fusion events, revealing unprecedented details about this fundamental life phenomenon. The technique, based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), enables the study of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion at a single-vesicle level.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Collège de France developed two protocols for controlled membrane fusion, revealing that the process is surprisingly fast. The fusion process can be completed within 200 nanoseconds, with an average expansion velocity of centimeters per second.
Researchers have captured a molecular movie of the sperm's fusion with the egg's coating, revealing a tightly regulated process that enables fertilization. The study found that calcium release triggers membrane fusion, and loose SNARE formations precede the final tight configuration.
Researchers at Rice University and Iowa State University discovered that hemifusion is an intermediate fusion state in biological systems, where the outer layer of the membrane mixes with the inner layer. This finding suggests that hemifusion may be the mechanism used by all living cells to facilitate membrane fusion.
Researchers discovered mitochondria can fuse without additional proteins, revealing new insights into the aging process and potential treatments for age-related diseases. This understanding is crucial for developing new therapies for optic atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
A new study found that Dap160 stabilizes the complex of molecules involved in vesicle formation and retrieval, allowing for continuous neurotransmitter release. This process is essential for neurons to communicate with each other.
Researchers found that brain cells recycle synaptic vesicles rapidly through a 'kiss-and-run' process, allowing for efficient communication. This process enables small nerve terminals to get full mileage from their limited set of vesicles, supporting rapid neurotransmitter release.
Scientists have unraveled the mystery of membrane fusion, a process crucial for gene therapy and drug delivery. By analyzing X-ray diffraction patterns, researchers revealed that membrane fusion begins with an hourglass-shaped structure called a stalk.
Researchers observe temporary structure during membrane fusion, forming hourglass-shaped stalk connecting two membranes. This discovery may lead to understanding of viral infection and designing new drug delivery methods.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of membrane fusion in yeast cells, which challenges prior assumptions about the process. The study offers a practical tool to study and modulate fusion events, with potential applications in understanding disease and developing treatments.
Golgi lipids play a crucial role in regulating protein trafficking, disrupting the organization of the Golgi apparatus and blocking certain proteins from being trafficked. The study found that PLA2 overexpression causes the fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus, similar to changes during mitosis.
Scientists at Stanford University have developed a system to work with millions of cell-sized squares composed of artificial membranes, offering new possibilities for experiments. The micro-membranes are stable, isolated, and retain their properties for several weeks, making them suitable for applications such as determining the struct...