Membrane curvature at a glance
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology · Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology · +2 more institutions
Abstract
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,…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 25.12
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 84
Authors
2Topics & keywords
- Membrane curvature
- Biology
- Membrane
- Curvature
- Elasticity of cell membranes
- Organelle
- Transmembrane protein
- Biophysics