Bilayer-Coated Nanoparticles to Probe the Effect of Membrane Deformability on Fusion intermediates

Abstract

Viral membrane fusion kinetics is dominated by the slow kinetic steps driven by viral proteins, which mask the effect of the comparatively fast lipid rearrangements on the process. To probe these lipid intermediates we have developed an experimental set up based on the use of lipid coated silica nanoparticles. This results in target membranes with decreased deformability and defined curvature without any alteration of the lipid composition. by analyzing lipid mixing events on a single particle level we were able to dissect the effects of membrane deformability and curvature on the kinetics of the fusion process and the stoichiometry of viral proteins driving this process.