title: Time scales of membrane fusion revealed by direct imaging of vesicle fusion with high temporal resolution.
abstract: Membrane fusion is a vital process of life involved, for example, in cellular secretion via exocytosis, signaling between nerve cells, and virus infection. In both the life sciences and bioengineering, controlled membrane fusion has many possible applications, such as drug delivery, gene transfer, chemical microreactors, or synthesis of nanomaterials. Until now, the fusion dynamics has been elusive because direct observations have been limited to time scales that exceed several milliseconds. Here, the fusion of giant lipid vesicles is induced in a controlled manner and monitored with a temporal resolution of 50 micros. Two different fusion protocols are used that are based on synthetic fusogenic molecules and electroporation. For both protocols, the opening of the fusion necks is very fast, with an average expansion velocity of centimeters per second. This velocity indicates that the initial formation of a single fusion neck can be completed in a few hundred nanoseconds.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Haluska
authors.forename: Karin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Riske
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marchi-Artzner
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lehn
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lipowsky
authors.forename: Rumiana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dimova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004583:Electrons; D008024:Ligands; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands