title: Mechanical tension drives cell membrane fusion.
abstract: Membrane fusion is an energy-consuming process that requires tight juxtaposition of two lipid bilayers. Little is known about how cells overcome energy barriers to bring their membranes together for fusion. Previously, we have shown that cell-cell fusion is an asymmetric process in which an "attacking" cell drills finger-like protrusions into the "receiving" cell to promote cell fusion. Here, we show that the receiving cell mounts a Myosin II (MyoII)-mediated mechanosensory response to its invasive fusion partner. MyoII acts as a mechanosensor, which directs its force-induced recruitment to the fusion site, and the mechanosensory response of MyoII is amplified by chemical signaling initiated by cell adhesion molecules. The accumulated MyoII, in turn, increases cortical tension and promotes fusion pore formation. We propose that the protrusive and resisting forces from fusion partners put the fusogenic synapse under high mechanical tension, which helps to overcome energy barriers for membrane apposition and drives cell membrane fusion.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Ji Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Yixin
authors: Y
authors: Ren
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors: Win Pin
authors: WP
authors: Ng
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors: Sungmin
authors: S
authors: Son
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Yee-Seir
authors: YS
authors: Kee
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Shiliang
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Laboratory of Bioengineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors: Guofeng
authors: G
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Fletcher
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors: Douglas N
authors: DN
authors: Robinson
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: echen@jhmi.edu.
authors: Elizabeth H
authors: EH
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D024462:Myosin Type II; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins