title: Fusion of Sindbis virus with model membranes containing phosphatidylethanolamine: implications for protein-induced membrane fusion.
abstract: The pH-induced fusion of Sindbis virus with model lipid membranes containing phosphatidylethanolamine has been studied using a quantitative fluorescence technique. The headgroup and acyl chain domains of the lipids have been altered systematically to determine their effect on fusion. Unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) have been found to promote fusion, either by themselves, or in combination with phosphatidylcholines (PC). Cholesterol added to a mixture of unsaturated PE and PC was also shown to increase the extent of viral fusion. The results of these studies have been interpreted in terms of a tentative model for the molecular aspects of the target membrane which are necessary for viral fusion. In this model, the target membrane must have a sufficiently-sized domain containing poorly hydrated lipids which are capable of existing in a non-bilayer arrangement.
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol; D008081:Liposomes; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000502:physiology; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol