Membrane Systems: From Artificial Models to Cellular Applications

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Membranes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1643

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Third Institute of Physics–Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Interests: membrane systems; fluorescence microscopy; membrane; biophysics; super-resolution microscopy

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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Biology, Guyot Hall M162, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
Interests: DNA nonotechnology, biochemistry, single-molecule spectroscopy; cell membrane surface engineering and cell tension processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the complexities of biological membranes is essential to unraveling the intricacies of cellular processes. However, the dynamic and multifaceted nature of these membranes poses significant challenges. In this special issue, "Membrane Systems: From Artificial Models to Cellular Applications", we explore how simple model membranes can be powerful tools for uncovering the complexities of biological membranes.

Artificial membranes, such as liposomes and supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), offer a controlled environment where specific aspects of membrane behavior can be isolated and studied in detail. These simplified systems allow researchers to dissect the fundamental principles governing membrane dynamics, lipid-protein interactions, and other critical processes. By stripping down the complexity, these models provide clear insights that can be difficult to obtain in more intricate cellular systems. However, the challenge remains to translate these findings from model systems to the intricate environment of living cells, where membranes are dynamic and highly heterogeneous, interacting with a myriad of proteins, lipids, and other biomolecules.

For this special issue, authors are invited to present any new research developments, reviews in membrane science, from the refinement of artificial models to their application in studying cellular processes. Topics covered include the design, simulation, and characterization of novel membrane mimetics, insights into membrane protein function, the role of membranes in disease, and innovative techniques for visualizing membrane and protein dynamics.

I am excited to present this collection of work that highlights the effectiveness of using simple models to tackle complex biological questions. I hope this issue inspires further research, driving innovation in the field of membrane science and bridging the gap between artificial systems and real-life cellular applications.

Dr. Tao Chen
Dr. Dongxia Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • model membrane
  • membrane protein
  • plasma membrane
  • membrane dynamics
  • cellular processes
  • molecular dynamics simulation
  • hybrid membrane systems

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2875 KiB  
Article
Inhibition of ISAV Membrane Fusion by a Peptide Derived from Its Fusion Protein
by María Elena Tarnok, Lucía Caravia-Merlo, Constanza Cárdenas, Fanny Guzmán and Luis F. Aguilar
Membranes 2025, 15(6), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15060180 - 15 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Peptides designed to interfere with specific steps of viral infection mechanisms have shown promising antiviral potential. In this study, we investigated the ability of a synthetic peptide (peptide 303), derived from the fusion protein sequence of the Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV), to [...] Read more.
Peptides designed to interfere with specific steps of viral infection mechanisms have shown promising antiviral potential. In this study, we investigated the ability of a synthetic peptide (peptide 303), derived from the fusion protein sequence of the Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV), to inhibit membrane fusion mediated by the ISAV fusion peptide (ISAV-FP1). To assess this, we employed a model membrane system consisting of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and cholesterol. Membrane fusion kinetics were monitored via R18 fluorescence dequenching. Additionally, the interaction of peptide 303 with lipid membranes was evaluated using fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The potential direct interaction between peptide 303 and ISAV-FP1 was further examined through Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assays. Our results demonstrate that peptide 303 effectively inhibits ISAV-FP1-mediated membrane fusion. Furthermore, peptide 303 was shown to interact with lipid bilayers and with ISAV-FP1 itself. These findings suggest a dual inhibitory mechanism in which peptide 303 both prevents ISAV-FP1 binding to the membrane and directly interacts with the fusion peptide, thereby disrupting its fusogenic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems: From Artificial Models to Cellular Applications)
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Review

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21 pages, 2675 KiB  
Review
Uncovering the Mechanisms of Intracellular Membrane Trafficking by Reconstituted Membrane Systems
by Shuhan Chen, Yinghui Liu and Haijia Yu
Membranes 2025, 15(5), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15050154 - 16 May 2025
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Abstract
Intracellular membrane trafficking that transports proteins, lipids, and other substances between organelles is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and signal transduction. The imbalance of membrane trafficking leads to various diseases. It is challenging to uncover the mechanisms of the complicated and dynamic trafficking [...] Read more.
Intracellular membrane trafficking that transports proteins, lipids, and other substances between organelles is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and signal transduction. The imbalance of membrane trafficking leads to various diseases. It is challenging to uncover the mechanisms of the complicated and dynamic trafficking process at the cellular or animal levels. The applications of functional reconstituted membrane systems, which can mimic the intracellular membrane compartments in a clean and simplified pattern, tremendously facilitate our understanding of the membrane trafficking process. In this review, we summarize applications of the in vitro membrane models, including liposomes, nanodiscs, and single-vesicle platforms, in elucidating molecular mechanisms that govern vesicle fusion and non-vesicular lipid transport, the key steps of membrane trafficking. This review highlights how membrane reconstitution approaches contribute to illustrating the protein-mediated molecular choreography of cellular membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems: From Artificial Models to Cellular Applications)
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