title: Actin-propelled invasive membrane protrusions promote fusogenic protein engagement during cell-cell fusion.
abstract: Cell-cell fusion is critical for the conception, development, and physiology of multicellular organisms. Although cellular fusogenic proteins and the actin cytoskeleton are implicated in cell-cell fusion, it remains unclear whether and how they coordinate to promote plasma membrane fusion. We reconstituted a high-efficiency, inducible cell fusion culture system in the normally nonfusing Drosophila S2R+ cells. Both fusogenic proteins and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements were necessary for cell fusion, and in combination they were sufficient to impart fusion competence. Localized actin polymerization triggered by specific cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion molecules propelled invasive cell membrane protrusions, which in turn promoted fusogenic protein engagement and plasma membrane fusion. This de novo cell fusion culture system reveals a general role for actin-propelled invasive membrane protrusions in driving fusogenic protein engagement during cell-cell fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Khurts
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shilagardi
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fengbao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Faiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marikar
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murnen
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C470734:EFF-1 protein, C elegans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C410904:SNS protein, Drosophila; C413082:kirre protein, Drosophila