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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Membrane Traffic01:44

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

The ER, Golgi apparatus, endosomes, and lysosomes work in tandem to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids. An integrated membrane trafficking network facilitates the back and forth shuttling of molecules within different organelles in the same cell or across the cell membrane.
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
Introduction to Membrane Traffic01:44

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

The ER, Golgi apparatus, endosomes, and lysosomes work in tandem to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids. An integrated membrane trafficking network facilitates the back and forth shuttling of molecules within different organelles in the same cell or across the cell membrane.
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane fluidity is explained by the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, which describes the plasma membrane structure as a mosaic of components—including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.Fatty acids tails of phospholipids can be either saturated or...
The Significance of Membrane Transport01:44

The Significance of Membrane Transport

The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
The Significance of Membrane Transport01:44

The Significance of Membrane Transport

The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy
10:58

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy

Published on: August 24, 2016

Tethering molecules in membrane traffic.

B Sönnichsen1

  • 1European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.

Protoplasma
|November 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Eukaryotic cell membrane transport relies on organelle fusion. This review details recent advances in understanding how the core fusion machinery is regulated by upstream factors for specific membrane fusion events.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Membrane transport is crucial for eukaryotic cell function, involving various organelles.
  • Organelle membrane fusion is a highly regulated process essential for cellular organization and trafficking.
  • Specificity in membrane fusion ensures correct delivery and function within the cell.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding the regulation of membrane fusion in eukaryotic cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular connections between the core fusion machinery and upstream regulatory mechanisms.
  • To provide insights into the specificity of membrane fusion events.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific publications.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on membrane fusion regulation.

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Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

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Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
09:00

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles

Published on: November 3, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy
10:58

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy

Published on: August 24, 2016

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy
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Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
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Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles

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  • Analysis of molecular links between fusion machinery and regulatory factors.

    • Main Results:

    • Recent progress has illuminated the molecular links governing membrane fusion specificity.
    • Understanding upstream regulation provides critical insights into controlling fusion events.
    • The core fusion machinery is intricately connected to regulatory pathways.

    Conclusions:

    • The regulation of organelle membrane fusion is complex, involving multiple layers of control.
    • Further research into these molecular links will advance our understanding of cellular transport.
    • Targeting these regulatory mechanisms could have implications for treating diseases related to membrane trafficking.