Membrane activation: Selective vesicle fusion via small molecule recognition

Modulation of lipid bilayer packing contributes to the activation of biomembrane functions1 and can initiate noncoValent membrane reactions such as lysis, pore-formation, and fusion.2 While many chemical agents can cause nonspecific lysis and fusion,3 native membrane chemistry is specific and regulated.4 The selectivity of membrane fusion is thought to arise from the coupling of membrane perturbation and surface-surface recognition (binding).4,5 Interest-ingly, both class I viral and endogenous secretory systems utilize protein coiled-coil recognition as an engine of fusion;6 indeed, these protein systems have been shown to fuse synthetic and biomem-branes.7 Though fusion may also be induced using artificial membrane interactions,8 there have been no reports of designed, controllable membrane fusion using well-defined small molecule recognition partners in apposing membranes. We report herein the induction of selective vesicle fusion with biological recognitio