Fusion of Biological Membranes and Related Problems

Membrane fusion and targeting processes are tightly regulated and coordinated. Dozens of proteins, originating from both the cytoplasm and membranes are involved. The discovery of homologous proteins from yeast to neurons validates a unified view.
Although much is known about the interfering proteins, the events occurring when two lipid bilayers actually fuse are less clear. It should be remembered that lipid bilayers behave like soap-bubbles fusing when meeting each other. In this respect interfering proteins should be considered as preventing undesirable and unnecessary fusion and eventually directing the biological membrane fusion process (when, where, how, and overcoming the activation energy).
In this latest volume in the renowned Subcellular Biochemistry series, some aspects of fusion of biological membranes as well as related problems are presented. Although not complete, there is a lot of recent information including on virus-induced membrane fusion. The contributors of the chapters are all among the researchers who performed many of the pioneering studies in the field.

Zusammenfassung
Membrane fusion and targeting processes are tightly regulated and coordinated. In this respect interfering proteins should be considered as preventing undesirable and unnecessary fusion and eventually directing the biological membrane fusion process (when, where, how, and overcoming the activation energy).

Inhalt
The Secretory Pathway From History to the State of the Art.- Neurotoxins as Tools in Dissecting the Exocytic Machinery.- Annexins and Membrane Fusion.- The Full Complement of Yeast Ypt/Rab-GTPases and Their Involvement in Exo- and Endocytic Trafficking.- Possible Roles of Long-chain Fatty Acyl-CoA Esters in the Fusion of Biomembranes.- Brefeldin A Revealing the Fundamental Principles Governing Membrane Dynamics and Protein Transport.- Membrane Fusion Events during Nuclear Envelope Assembly.- Transactions at the Peroxisomal Membrane.- Neurons, Chromaffin Cells and Membrane Fusion.- Reversibility in Fusion Protein Conformational Changes The Intriguing Case of Rhabdovirus-Induced Membrane Fusion.- Specific Roles for Lipids in Virus Fusion and Exit Examples from the Alphaviruses.- Fusion Mediated by the HIV-1 Envelope Protein.- Sulfhydryl Involvement in Fusion Mechanisms.