scholarly journals Inner but Not Outer Membrane Leaflets Control the Transition from Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Influenza Hemagglutinin-induced Hemifusion to Full Fusion

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 995-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grigory B. Melikyan ◽  
Sofya A. Brener ◽  
Dong C. Ok ◽  
Fredric S. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Negative Curvature ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Positive Curvature ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Spontaneous Curvature ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin ◽  
Fusion Pores

Cells that express wild-type influenza hemagglutinin (HA) fully fuse to RBCs, while cells that express the HA-ectodomain anchored to membranes by glycosylphosphatidylinositol, rather than by a transmembrane domain, only hemifuse to RBCs. Amphipaths were inserted into inner and outer membrane leaflets to determine the contribution of each leaflet in the transition from hemifusion to fusion. When inserted into outer leaflets, amphipaths did not promote the transition, independent of whether the agent induces monolayers to bend outward (conferring positive spontaneous monolayer curvature) or inward (negative curvature). In contrast, when incorporated into inner leaflets, positive curvature agents led to full fusion. This suggests that fusion is completed when a lipidic fusion pore with net positive curvature is formed by the inner leaflets that compose a hemifusion diaphragm. Suboptimal fusion conditions were established for RBCs bound to cells expressing wild-type HA so that lipid but not aqueous dye spread was observed. While this is the same pattern of dye spread as in stable hemifusion, for this “stunted” fusion, lower concentrations of amphipaths in inner leaflets were required to promote transfer of aqueous dyes. Also, these amphipaths induced larger pores for stunted fusion than they generated within a stable hemifusion diaphragm. Therefore, spontaneous curvature of inner leaflets can affect formation and enlargement of fusion pores induced by HA. We propose that after the HA-ectodomain induces hemifusion, the transmembrane domain causes pore formation by conferring positive spontaneous curvature to leaflets of the hemifusion diaphragm.

scholarly journals A Point Mutation in the Transmembrane Domain of the Hemagglutinin of Influenza Virus Stabilizes a Hemifusion Intermediate That Can Transit to Fusion

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3765-3775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grigory B. Melikyan ◽  
Ruben M. Markosyan ◽  
Michael G. Roth ◽  
Fredric S. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Point Mutation ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Proteinase K ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Decreasing Ph ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Increasing Temperature ◽  
Fusion Pores

A hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus having a single semiconserved Gly residue within the transmembrane domain mutated to Leu (G520L) was expressed on cells; these cells were bound to red blood cells. By decreasing pH at 23°C rather than 37°C, an intermediate with properties expected of hemifusion just as the membranes are about to transit to full fusion was captured. As evidence: 1) increasing temperature to 37°C at neutral pH allowed fusion to proceed; 2) after achieving the intermediate, the two membranes did not separate from each other after proteolytic cleavage of G520L because cells treated with proteinase K could not fuse upon temperature increase but could fuse upon the addition of chlorpromazine; and 3) at the point of the intermediate, adding exogenous lipids known to promote or inhibit the creation of hemifusion did not significantly alter the lipid dye spread that occurred upon increasing temperature, implying that at the intermediate, contacting membrane leaflets had already merged. A stable intermediate of hemifusion that could transit to fusion was also generated for wild-type HA, but pH had to be reduced at the significantly lower temperature of 4°C. The fusion pores generated by G520L did not enlarge, whereas those induced by wild-type HA did. The finding that a state of transitional hemifusion can be readily obtained via a point mutation without the need for unusually low temperature supports the hypothesis that hemifusion occurs before pore formation.

scholarly journals Myomerger promotes fusion pore by elastic coupling between proximal membrane leaflets and hemifusion diaphragm

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonen Golani ◽  
Evgenia Leikina ◽  
Kamran Melikov ◽  
Jarred M. Whitlock ◽  
Dilani G. Gamage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Formation ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Lipid Monolayers ◽  
Complete Fusion ◽  
Spontaneous Curvature ◽  
Elastic Stresses ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Specific Membrane

AbstractMyomerger is a muscle-specific membrane protein involved in formation of multinucleated muscle cells by mediating the transition from the early hemifusion stage to complete fusion. Here, we considered the physical mechanism of the Myomerger action based on the hypothesis that Myomerger shifts the spontaneous curvature of the outer membrane leaflets to more positive values. We predicted, theoretically, that Myomerger generates the outer leaflet elastic stresses, which propagate into the hemifusion diaphragm and accelerate the fusion pore formation. We showed that Myomerger ectodomain indeed generates positive spontaneous curvature of lipid monolayers. We substantiated the mechanism by experiments on myoblast fusion and influenza hemagglutinin-mediated cell fusion. In both processes, the effects of Myomerger ectodomain were strikingly similar to those of lysophosphatidylcholine known to generate a positive spontaneous curvature of lipid monolayers. The control of post-hemifusion stages by shifting the spontaneous curvature of proximal membrane monolayers may be utilized in diverse fusion processes.

scholarly journals The fusion kinetics of influenza hemagglutinin expressing cells to planar bilayer membranes is affected by HA density and host cell surface.

1995 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
G B Melikyan ◽  
W D Niles ◽  
F S Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Planar Bilayer ◽  
Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Pore Evolution ◽  
Fusion Pores ◽  
Kinetics Of

Time-resolved admittance measurements were used to follow formation of individual fusion pores connecting influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA)-expressing cells to planar bilayer membranes. By measuring in-phase, out-of-phase, and dc components of currents, pore conductances were resolved with millisecond time resolution. Fusion pores developed in stages, from small pores flickering open and closed, to small successful pores that remained open until enlarging their lumens to sizes greater than those of viral nucleocapsids. The kinetics of fusion and the properties of fusion pores were studied as functions of density of the fusion protein HA. The consequences of treating cell surfaces with proteases that do not affect HA were also investigated. Fusion kinetics were described by waiting time distributions from triggering fusion, by lowering pH, to the moment of pore formation. The kinetics of pore formation became faster as the density of active HA was made greater or when cell surface proteins were extensively cleaved with proteases. In accord with this faster kinetics, the intervals between transient pore openings within the flickering stage were shorter for higher HA density and more extensive cell surface treatment. Whereas the kinetics of fusion depended on HA density, the lifetimes of open fusion pores were independent of HA density. However, the lifetimes of open pores were affected by the proteolytic treatment of the cells. Faster fusion kinetics correlated with shorter pore openings. We conclude that the density of fusion protein strongly affects the kinetics of fusion pore formation, but that once formed, pore evolution is not under control of fusion proteins but rather under the influence of mechanical forces, such as membrane bending and tension.

scholarly journals HIV-1 Envelope Proteins Complete Their Folding into Six-helix Bundles Immediately after Fusion Pore Formation

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 926-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben M. Markosyan ◽  
Fredric S. Cohen ◽  
Grigory B. Melikyan
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Temperature Jump ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Pore Growth ◽  
Essential Function ◽  
Intermediate Value ◽  
Fusion Pores ◽  
Hiv 1

Fusion proteins of many viruses, including HIV-1 envelope protein (Env), fold into six-helix bundle structures. Fusion between individual Env-expressing cells and target cells was studied by fluorescence microscopy, and a temperature jump technique, to determine whether folding of Env into a bundle is complete by the time fusion pores have formed. Lowering temperature to 4°C immediately after a pore opened halted pore growth, which quickly resumed when temperature was raised again. HIV gp41-derived peptides that inhibit bundle formation (C34 or N36) caused the cold-arrested pore to quickly and irreversibly close, demonstrating that bundle formation is not complete by the time a pore has formed. In contrast, lowering the temperature to an intermediate value also halted pore growth, but the pore was not closed by the bundle-inhibiting peptides, and it enlarged when temperature was again elevated. This latter result shows that bundle formation is definitely required for the fusion process, but surprisingly, some (if not all) bundle formation occurs after a pore has formed. It is concluded that an essential function of the bundle is to stabilize the pore against collapse and ensure its growth.

scholarly journals Restricted movement of lipid and aqueous dyes through pores formed by influenza hemagglutinin during cell fusion.

1994 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 1885-1894 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Zimmerberg ◽  
R Blumenthal ◽  
D P Sarkar ◽  
M Curran ◽  
S J Morris
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Restricted Movement ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements ◽  
Cell Membrane Capacitance ◽  
Total Fusion

The fusion of cells by influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is the best characterized example of protein-mediated membrane fusion. In simultaneous measurements of pairs of assays for fusion, we determined the order of detectable events during fusion. Fusion pore formation in HA-triggered cell-cell fusion was first detected by changes in cell membrane capacitance, next by a flux of fluorescent lipid, and finally by flux of aqueous fluorescent dye. Fusion pore conductance increased by small steps. A retardation of lipid and aqueous dyes occurred during fusion pore fluctuations. The flux of aqueous dye depended on the size of the molecule. The lack of movement of aqueous dyes while total fusion pore conductance increased suggests that initial HA-triggered fusion events are characterized by the opening of multiple small pores: the formation of a "sieve".

scholarly journals GPI-anchored influenza hemagglutinin induces hemifusion to both red blood cell and planar bilayer membranes.

1995 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 679-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
G B Melikyan ◽  
J M White ◽  
F S Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Coupling Model ◽  
Planar Bilayer ◽  
Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Influenza Hemagglutinin ◽  
Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin ◽  
Video Fluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Fusion Pores ◽  
Outer Monolayer

Under fusogenic conditions, fluorescent dye redistributed from the outer monolayer leaflet of red blood cells (RBCs) to cells expressing glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored influenza virus hemagglutinin (GPI-HA) without transfer of aqueous dye. This suggests that hemifusion, but not full fusion, occurred (Kemble, G. W., T. Danieli, and J. M. White. 1994. Cell. 76:383-391). We extended the evidence for hemifusion by labeling the inner monolayer leaflets of RBCs with FM4-64 and observing that these inner leaflets did not become continuous with GPI-HA-expressing cells. The region of hemifusion-separated aqueous contents, the hemifusion diaphragm, appeared to be extended and was long-lived. But when RBCs hemifused to GPI-HA-expressing cells were osmotically swollen, some diaphragms were disrupted, and spread of both inner leaflet and aqueous dyes was observed. This was characteristic of full fusion: inner leaflet and aqueous probes spread to cells expressing wild-type HA (wt-HA). By simultaneous video fluorescence microscopy and time-resolved electrical admittance measurements, we rigorously demonstrated that GPI-HA-expressing cells hemifuse to planar bilayer membranes: lipid continuity was established without formation of fusion pores. The hemifusion area became large. In contrast, for cells expressing wt-HA, before lipid dye spread, fusion pores were always observed, establishing that full fusion occurred. We present an elastic coupling model in which the ectodomain of wt-HA induces hemifusion and the transmembrane domain, absent in the GPI-HA-expressing cells, mediates full fusion.

scholarly journals Fusion Pore Formation Observed During SNARE-Mediated Vesicle Fusion with Pore-Spanning Membranes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mühlenbrock ◽  
K. Herwig ◽  
L. Vuong ◽  
I. Mey ◽  
C. Steinem
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Rare Event ◽  
Vesicle Fusion ◽  
Fusion Process ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Dual Color ◽  
Fusion Pores

ABSTRACTPlanar pore-spanning membranes (PSMs) have been shown to be a versatile tool to resolve docking and elementary steps of the fusion process with single large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). However, in previous studies, we monitored only lipid mixing and did not gather information about the formation of fusion pores. To address this important step of the fusion process, we entrapped sulforhodamine B at self-quenching concentrations into LUVs containing the v-SNARE synaptobrevin 2, which were docked and fused with lipid-labeled PSMs containing the t-SNARE acceptor complex ΔN49 prepared on porous silicon substrates. By dual color spinning disc fluorescence microcopy with a time resolution of 20 ms, we could unambiguously distinguish between bursting vesicles and fusion pore formation. Owing to the aqueous compartment underneath the PSMs, vesicle bursting turned out to be an extremely rare event (< 0.01 %). From the time-resolved dual color fluorescence time traces, we were able to identify different fusion pathways including remaining three-dimensional postfusion structures with released content and flickering fusion pores. Our results on fusion pore formation and lipid diffusion from the PSM into the fusing vesicle let us conclude that the content release, i.e., fusion pore formation follows the merger of the two lipid membranes by only about 40 ms.STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEDespite great efforts to develop in vitro fusion assays to understand the process of neuronal fusion, there is still a huge demand to provide single vesicle fusion assays that simultaneously report on all intermediate states including three-dimensional postfusion structures and fusion pore formation including flickering pores without the underlying artifact of vesicle bursting. Here, we show that pore-spanning membranes (PSMs) are ideal candidates to fulfill these demands. Owing to their planarity and the second aqueous compartments, they are readily accessible by fluorescence microscopy and provide sufficient space so that vesicle bursting becomes negligible. Dual color fluorescence microscopy allows distinguishing between different fusion intermediates and fusion pathways such as “kiss and run” fusion as well as flickering fusion pores.

scholarly journals Synaptobrevin-2 C-terminal Flexible Region Regulates the Discharge of Catecholamine through the Fusion Pore

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annita N. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Chromaffin Cells ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Flash Photolysis ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Snare Protein ◽  
Head Groups ◽  
Flexible Region

AbstractThe discharge of neurotransmitters from vesicles is a regulated process. Synaptobrevin-2 a SNARE protein, participates in this process through its interaction with other SNARE and associate proteins. Synaptobrevin-2 transmembrane domain is embedded into the vesicle lipid bilayer except for its last three residues. These residues are hydrophilic and constitute synaptobrevin-2 C-terminal flexible region. This region interacts with the intravesicular lipid bilayer phosphate head groups to initiate the fusion pore formation. Here it is shown that, this region also modulates the intravesicular membrane potential thereby the discharged of catecholamine. Synapotobrevin-2 Y113 residue was mutated to lysine or glutamate. The effects of these mutations on the exocytotic process in chromaffin cells were assessed using capacitance measurements, combined with amperometry and stimulation by flash photolysis of caged Ca2+. Both Y113E and Y113K mutations reduced the amplitudes of vesicle fusions and reduced the rates of release of catecholamine molecules in quanta release events. Further investigation revealed that the proximity of these charged residues near the vesicle lipid bilayer most likely changed the intravesicular potential, thereby slowing the flux of ions through the fusion pore, hence reducing the rate of catecholamine secretion. These results suggest that catecholamine efflux is couple with the intravesicular membrane potential.

scholarly journals Pore formation by dimeric Bak and Bax: an unusual pore?

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1726) ◽  
pp. 20160218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Uren ◽  
Sweta Iyer ◽  
Ruth M. Kluck
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Hydrophobic Surface ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Membrane Curvature ◽  
Basic Unit ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Membrane Pores

Apoptotic cell death via the mitochondrial pathway occurs in all vertebrate cells and requires the formation of pores in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Two Bcl-2 protein family members, Bak and Bax, form these pores during apoptosis, and how they do so has been investigated for the last two decades. Many of the conformation changes that occur during their transition to pore-forming proteins have now been delineated. Notably, biochemical, biophysical and structural studies indicate that symmetric homodimers are the basic unit of pore formation. Each dimer contains an extended hydrophobic surface that lies on the outer membrane, and is anchored at either end by a transmembrane domain. Membrane-remodelling events such as positive membrane curvature have been reported to accompany apoptotic pore formation, suggesting Bak and Bax form lipidic pores rather than proteinaceous pores. However, it remains unclear how symmetric dimers assemble to porate the membrane. Here, we review how clusters of dimers and their lipid-mediated interactions provide a molecular explanation for the heterogeneous assemblies of Bak and Bax observed during apoptosis. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology’.

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