title: Phosphatidylinositol metabolism and membrane fusion.
abstract: Membrane fusion underlies many cellular events, including secretion, exocytosis, endocytosis, organelle reconstitution, transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi and nuclear envelope formation. A large number of investigations into membrane fusion indicate various roles for individual members of the phosphoinositide class of membrane lipids. We first review the phosphoinositides as membrane recognition sites and their regulatory functions in membrane fusion. We then consider how modulation of phosphoinositides and their products may affect the structure and dynamics of natural membranes facilitating fusion. These diverse roles underscore the importance of these phospholipids in the fusion of biological membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA. dlpoccia@amherst.edu
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poccia
authors.forename: Banafshé
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larijani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols