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Membrane curvature: a key regulator of membrane protein structure and function
Pu Jiang1, Cong Zhang1, Cong Lin2
1Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Frontier Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
None:
Membrane curvature is a fundamental biophysical property that regulates the spatial organization, conformation and function of membrane-associated proteins, playing a crucial part in cellular signaling, material transport and membrane remodeling. Recent advances in imaging and computational technologies have deepened our understanding of the mechanisms driving membrane curvature and its influence on membrane protein function. In this review, we explore the key determinants of membrane curvature, its influence on the structure, function, localization, aggregation and dissociation of membrane proteins, and the experimental and computational strategies employed to investigate these interactions. Additionally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting membrane curvature for disease treatment and outline current challenges and future research directions.
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