Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

What are Membranes?01:54

What are Membranes?

158.0K
A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and...
158.0K
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

5.7K
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
5.7K
Introduction to Membrane Proteins01:16

Introduction to Membrane Proteins

66.9K
The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is an ever-changing landscape. It is described as a fluid mosaic where various macromolecules are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. Among the macromolecules are proteins. The protein content varies across cell types. For example, mitochondrial inner membranes contain ~76% protein content, while myelin contains ~18% protein content. Individual cells contain many types of membrane proteins—red blood cells contain over 50—and different cell...
66.9K
Types of Membrane Protrusions01:28

Types of Membrane Protrusions

2.9K
The protrusion of the cell surface is an initial step for several cellular processes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, and neurite outgrowth. These membrane protrusions are a result of cytoskeletal rearrangement. The most  widely observed cell protrusions include lamellipodia, pseudopodia, filopodia, microvilli, invadopodia, and podosomes. These protrusions can be of two types — static or dynamic.
The microvilli, an example of stable protrusions, are finger-like projections...
2.9K
Introduction to Membrane Traffic01:44

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

7.2K
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...
7.2K
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

3.1K
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
3.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

In memoriam: Catherine Rabouille (1962-2025).

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

A high-resolution analysis of arrestin2 interactions responsible for CCR5 endocytosis.

eLife·2026
Same author

Bacterial RNA promotes proteostasis through inter-tissue communication in C. elegans.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Cell Type-Specific Effects of <i>Fusarium</i> Mycotoxins on Primary Neurons and Astroglial Cells.

Toxins·2025
Same author

A multichaperone condensate enhances protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Nature cell biology·2025
Same author

ESCRTing the RABs through conversion.

Biochemical Society transactions·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers
11:55

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 12, 2022

2.3K

Membrane tethers at a glance.

Viktória Szentgyörgyi1, Anne Spang1

  • 1Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.

Journal of Cell Science
|March 6, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tethering factors are crucial for vesicle fusion and cargo delivery between cellular compartments. New research highlights their expanded role in membrane fusion beyond just capturing vesicles, revealing them as key players in the fusion machinery.

Keywords:
EndosomesGolgiMembrane fusionMembrane trafficRab GTPaseSNARE

More Related Videos

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.0K
A Model Membrane Platform for Reconstituting Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics
10:31

A Model Membrane Platform for Reconstituting Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics

Published on: September 2, 2020

7.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers
11:55

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 12, 2022

2.3K
Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.0K
A Model Membrane Platform for Reconstituting Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics
10:31

A Model Membrane Platform for Reconstituting Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics

Published on: September 2, 2020

7.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Vesicle fusion is essential for intracellular cargo delivery.
  • Tethering factors mediate vesicle-membrane interactions, bridging membranes to facilitate fusion.
  • Diverse tethering factors exist, varying in composition, structure, and protein interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the structure and function of different tethering factor families, specifically coiled-coil tethers, CATCHR, and class C Vps complexes.
  • To elucidate the mechanistic insights into membrane fusion mediated by tethering factors.
  • To highlight the expanded role of tethers in regulating cargo transport and membrane fusion.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of tethering factor structures and functions.
  • Review of recent data on class C Vps complexes and the FERARI complex.
  • Discussion of functional analogies between different tether families.

Main Results:

  • Tethering factors play a significant role in membrane fusion beyond vesicle capture.
  • Tethers are key components of the cellular fusion machinery.
  • The FERARI complex mediates 'kiss-and-run' interactions in the endosomal system.

Conclusions:

  • Tethering factors exhibit conserved functions despite structural diversity.
  • Understanding tethering factors provides mechanistic insights into membrane fusion.
  • Tethers are critical regulators of cargo traffic and membrane fusion across cellular compartments.