title: Genetic basis of cell-cell fusion mechanisms.
abstract: Cell-cell fusion in sexually reproducing organisms is a mechanism to merge gamete genomes and, in multicellular organisms, it is a strategy to sculpt organs, such as muscle, bone, and placenta. Moreover, this mechanism has been implicated in pathological conditions, such as infection and cancer. Studies of genetic model organisms have uncovered a unifying principle: cell fusion is a genetically programmed process. This process can be divided in three stages: competence (cell induction and differentiation); commitment (cell determination, migration, and adhesion); and cell fusion (membrane merging and cytoplasmic mixing). Recent work has led to the discovery of fusogens, which are cell fusion proteins that are necessary and sufficient to fuse cell membranes. Two unrelated families of fusogens have been discovered, one in mouse placenta and one in Caenorhabditis elegans (syncytins and F proteins, respectively). Current research aims to identify new fusogens and determine the mechanisms by which they merge membranes.
authors: Cellular Membranes Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
authors: Pablo S
authors: PS
authors: Aguilar
authors: Mary K
authors: MK
authors: Baylies
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: Fleissner
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Helming
authors: Naokazu
authors: N
authors: Inoue
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Podbilewicz
authors: Hongmei
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000502:physiology