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Related Concept Videos

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion01:43

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

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Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
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Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
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Polymers02:34

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The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

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The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
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Forming Giant-sized Polymersomes Using Gel-assisted Rehydration
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Polymerization-Induced Polymersome Fusion.

Spyridon Varlas1, Robert Keogh1, Yujie Xie1,2

  • 1School of Chemistry , University of Birmingham , Edgbaston , Birmingham B15 2TT , United Kingdom.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 30, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Artificial polymersomes spontaneously fuse to form tubular structures without external force, driven by polymerization. This polymerization-induced polymersome fusion allows control over nanoparticle shape and composition for applications in drug delivery and catalysis.

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SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy
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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Membrane fusion and fission are vital for intercellular communication.
  • Artificial polymersomes typically require external force fields for fusion.
  • Understanding self-assembly mechanisms is key for advanced nanomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To achieve fusion-promoted formation of tubular polymersomes (tubesomes) without external force.
  • To explore the mechanism of polymerization-induced polymersome fusion.
  • To demonstrate control over tubesome morphology and composition.

Main Methods:

  • Aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization-induced self-assembly (ROMPISA).
  • Varying core-block degrees of polymerization (DPs).
  • Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and confocal microscopy for fusion confirmation.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous formation of anisotropic tubesomes during ROMPISA.
  • Controlled composition and length distribution of tubesomes by adjusting DP.
  • Evidence of fusion via step-growth kinetics, FRET membrane blending, and lumen mixing.

Conclusions:

  • Polymerization-induced polymersome fusion is a novel mechanism driven by growing polymer chain tension.
  • This method offers a facile route to reproducible, tunable mixtures of spherical and tubular polymersomes.
  • Potential applications in catalysis, trafficking, and drug delivery due to controlled morphology and compartment mixing.