GIST Cell Logistics Research Center identifies the molecular mechanism of atlastin-mediated ER membrane fusion
□ Professor Youngsoo Jun and Dr. Sanghwa Lee of the Cell Logistics Research Center (Director Youngsoo Jun) identified the formation mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum, a key organelle that mediates the intracellular material exchange in eukaryotic cells.
□The monomolecular fluorescence analysis technique used in this study can observe the fusion process between membrane structures in real time using a single molecule fluorescence microscope and a fluorescent substance-labeled membrane structure.
□ Using this, the research team observed in real time the membrane fusion process with atlasthin protein *, which is a key step in the formation of the network structure of endoplasmic reticulum. The research suggests a new hypothesis that atlasthin protein plays a major role in the membrane contact phase.
* Atlastin protein: GTP known to mediate vesicle membrane fusion
□ Dr. Sanghwa Lee said, "This study has great significance in refuting the existing hypothesis concerning the principle of network formation in endoplasmic reticulum by proposing a new hypothesis, and the newly developed membrane fusion monomolecular analytical technique is expected to be useful for identifying the intracellular mass exchange process by the endoplasmic reticulum."
