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J Cell Sci
2015[Mar]; 128
(6
): 1065-70
PMID25774051
show ga
Membrane curvature is an important parameter in defining the morphology of cells,
organelles and local membrane subdomains. Transport intermediates have simpler
shapes, being either spheres or tubules. The generation and maintenance of
curvature is of central importance for maintaining trafficking and cellular
functions. It is possible that local shapes in complex membranes could help to
define local subregions. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and
accompanying poster, we summarize how generating, sensing and maintaining high
local membrane curvature is an active process that is mediated and controlled by
specialized proteins using general mechanisms: (i) changes in lipid composition
and asymmetry, (ii) partitioning of shaped transmembrane domains of integral
membrane proteins or protein or domain crowding, (iii) reversible insertion of
hydrophobic protein motifs, (iv) nanoscopic scaffolding by oligomerized
hydrophilic protein domains and, finally, (v) macroscopic scaffolding by the
cytoskeleton with forces generated by polymerization and by molecular motors. We
also summarize some of the discoveries about the functions of membrane curvature,
where in addition to providing cell or organelle shape, local curvature can
affect processes like membrane scission and fusion as well as protein
concentration and enzyme activation on membranes.
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