Electrofusion of dissimilar membrane fusion partners depends on additive contributions from each of the two different membranes.

Rabbit erythrocyte ghost (REG) membranes and human erythrocyte ghosts (HEG) were aligned into contact by dielectrophoresis and fused with an electric pulse in REG + REG, HEG + HEG, and REG + HEG combinations. REG + HEG fusion yields were approximately midway between fusion yields for REG + REG and HEG + HEG over a wide range of pulse characteristics.