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Vesicular Tubular Clusters

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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

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

An update on transport vesicle tethering.

Frank C Brown¹, Suzanne R Pfeffer

¹Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5307, USA.

Molecular Membrane Biology

|November 12, 2010

Summary

Membrane trafficking relies on tethering proteins to connect vesicles to target membranes. This review explores recent advances in understanding tethering mechanisms and structures.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Membrane trafficking is crucial for cellular transport, involving vesicle budding, translocation, docking, and fusion.
Tethering is a critical step preceding vesicle fusion, ensuring proper cargo delivery.
Defective tethering leads to the accumulation of transport vesicles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of membrane tethering.
To highlight new structural insights into tethering complexes.
To elucidate the roles of different tethering molecules in vesicle transport.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent research on membrane trafficking and tethering.
Analysis of structural data and mechanistic studies of tethering complexes.

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Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

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Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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

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

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Published on: October 19, 2012

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Focus on Golgin proteins, Exocyst, COG, and Dsl complexes.

Main Results:

Tethering is mediated by coiled-coil proteins (e.g., Golgins) and multi-subunit complexes (e.g., Exocyst, COG, Dsl).
Recent studies provide new structural and mechanistic details on how these tethers function.
Understanding tethering mechanisms is key to understanding vesicle transport regulation.

Conclusions:

Tethering proteins play essential roles in ensuring the specificity and efficiency of membrane trafficking.
Continued structural and mechanistic studies will further illuminate the intricacies of vesicle transport.
Advances in understanding tethering are vital for comprehending cellular organization and function.