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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

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Published on: March 14, 2021

Negative tension induced by lipid uptake.

Jérôme Solon¹, Jacques Pécréaux, Philippe Girard

¹Institut Curie, UMR CNRS 168, 75248 Paris, France.

Physical Review Letters

|October 10, 2006

Summary

Membrane fusion dramatically lowers membrane tension, leading to instabilities and collapse. This study explores the large-scale effects of vesicle fusion on membrane shape and stability.

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Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

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Published on: March 14, 2021

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

Area of Science:

Cell biology
Biophysics
Membrane biophysics

Background:

Membrane fusion is crucial for cellular processes.
Molecular mechanisms of fusion are well-studied locally.
Large-scale consequences on membrane shape and stability remain unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate membrane tension evolution during vesicle fusion.
Compare experimental findings with theoretical models.
Explore large-scale membrane shape and stability changes post-fusion.

Main Methods:

Experimental investigation of membrane fusion using videomicroscopy.
Measurement of membrane tension via fluctuation spectrum analysis.
Analysis of time correlation function of membrane fluctuations.

Main Results:

Fusion of positive small unilamellar vesicles with negative giant unilamellar vesicles causes a significant decrease in membrane tension.
Effective membrane tension can reach negative values post-fusion.
Negative tension induces localized membrane instabilities.

Conclusions:

Membrane fusion significantly impacts large-scale membrane properties beyond local molecular events.
Observed instabilities and collapse highlight the importance of membrane tension in maintaining vesicle integrity.
The findings provide insights into the physical consequences of membrane fusion on cellular structures.