Membrane Fusion in
Cell Trafficking and Secretion

Many materials are transported around the cell in membrane-enclosed compartments. Delivery of cargo at the final destination requires controlled fusion of membrane surfaces. Examples include neurotransmitter release at synapses interconnecting neurons in the central nervous system and trafficking between organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi. Efficient and specific fusion is achieved through a conserved fusion machinery whose core includes the SNARE proteins. Spatial and temporal control results from the action of this machinery in the context of the physical properties of phospholipid membrane bilayers. Our research explores the mechanisms and pathways to fusion mediated by SNARES and other participants. The pathway includes membrane adhesion, hemifusion where outer leaflets fuse and a hemifusion diaphragm may grow and finally creation of a fusion pore.