Arribas Perez, M orcid.org/0000-0002-6489-5857 and Beales, PA orcid.org/0000-0001-9076-9793 (2021) Biomimetic Curvature and Tension-Driven Membrane Fusion Induced by Silica Nanoparticles. Langmuir, 37 (47). pp. 13917-13931. ISSN 0743-7463
Abstract
Fusion events in living cells are intricate phenomena that require the coordinate action of multicomponent protein complexes. However, simpler synthetic tools to control membrane fusion in artificial cells are highly desirable. Native membrane fusion machinery mediates fusion, driving a delicate balance of membrane curvature and tension between two closely apposed membranes. Here, we show that silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) at a size close to the cross-over between tension-driven and curvature-driven interaction regimes initiate efficient fusion of biomimetic model membranes. Fusion efficiency and mechanisms are studied by Förster resonance energy transfer and confocal fluorescence microscopy. SiO2 NPs induce a slight increase in lipid packing likely to increase the lateral tension of the membrane. We observe a connection between membrane tension and fusion efficiency. Finally, real-time confocal fluorescence microscopy reveals three distinct mechanistic pathways for membrane fusion. SiO2 NPs show significant potential for inclusion in the synthetic biology toolkit for membrane remodeling and fusion in artificial cells.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 American Chemical Society. This is an author produced version of an article, published in Langmuir. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemistry (Leeds) > Physical Chemistry (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 01 Dec 2021 14:20 |
Last Modified: | 09 Jan 2025 10:16 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02492 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:181043 |