Lipid molecules influence early stages of yeast SNARE-mediated membrane fusion.

Lipid molecules, structural components of biomembranes, have been proposed for an important role in membrane fusion. Through various techniques based on a protein-reconstituted vesicle-vesicle fusion system, we investigated the influence of several lipid molecules on different stages of a yeast soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-mediated membrane fusion process. Lipid compositions played a significant role in the early stages, docking and lipid mixing, while only exhibiting a minor effect on fusion pore formation and dilation phases, indicated by both small and large content mixing.