Molecular mechanisms of protein-mediated membrane fusion.
Two recent X-ray structures shed new light on the molecular mechanisms by which viral proteins mediate membrane fusion. In both cases it is clear that the fusion proteins are capable of dramatic conformational rearrangements. Studies of the intracellular fusion machinery used in vesicular transport have also advanced rapidly, although high-resolution structural information is not yet available.
Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544, USA.
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FM
Hughson
D000818:Animals; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins