Membrane Lipid Fusion Process

The membrane lipid fusion process is a fundamental biological event where two separate lipid bilayers merge to form a single continuous membrane. This process is essential for various cellular activities, including intracellular trafficking, fertilization, neurotransmitter release, viral entry into host cells, and organelle dynamics. It involves several key steps: aggregation, close contact/dehydration, hemifusion, and fusion pore formation. While lipids provide the structural basis, proteins like SNAREs and regulatory lipids such as diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid play crucial roles in catalyzing and regulating the process. Divalent cations like Ca²⁺ also modulate membrane fusion.

Other names

Membrane fusionLipid bilayer fusionCell membrane fusion