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Melittin‐induced fusion of acidic liposomes
Author(s) -
Eytan Gera D.,
Almary Taiser
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(83)80241-5
Subject(s) - melittin , liposome , moiety , fusion , chemistry , lipid bilayer fusion , amphiphile , membrane , biophysics , fusion protein , chromatography , biochemistry , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , recombinant dna , copolymer , polymer , gene , linguistics , philosophy
Melittin‐induced fusion of acidic liposomes. Fusion was observed in the electron‐microscope and assayed as intermixing of both liposomes' contents and membranes. The melittin concentrations required for fusion induction were in the μM range compared to over 10 mM Ca 2+ required for a comparable effect. It is suggested that the high efficiency of melittin is due to its amphipathic nature. Its hydrophobic moiety is probably anchored in one liposome while the positively charged hydrophilic moiety attracts another liposome.