DEHYDRATION OF THE PROCESS OF MEMBRANE FUSION INDUCED BY POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG)
脱水在聚乙二醇诱导膜融合中的作用

In this paper, we used fluorescence and freeze-fracture techniques to study the molecular mechanism of membrane fusion induced by polyethylene glycol(PEG). Our results indicated that the first step in membrane fusion process is dehydration. Only when phospholipid molecules lose the bound water, can the membranes contact closely, and the dehydration of membrane surface will soon bring about a series of changes in membrane structure, such as lipid defects, lipid lateral phase separation(domain), lipid liquid--gel phase transition and formation of nonbilayer structures, etc., which all promote the membrane fusion.