membraneremodeling

Membraneremodeling, often referred to as membrane remodeling, is the biological process by which cellular membranes are dynamically reshaped and reorganized to form structures such as vesicles, tubules, and organelle membranes. It involves coordinated changes in lipid composition, membrane curvature, and protein–lipid interactions that together alter membrane topology without necessarily increasing membrane synthesis.

Mechanisms underlying membraneremodeling include curvature-generating and -stabilizing proteins such as BAR-domain families that scaffold membranes, clathrin and adaptor complexes that drive vesicle budding, and amphipathic helices that insert into the bilayer to induce bending. Cytoskeletal forces and motor proteins contribute to membrane deformation, while GTPases such as dynamin mediate fission. In some contexts, ESCRT complexes drive membrane scission from sites of budding away from the cytosol. The process is often coupled to lipid remodeling, with shifts in phosphoinositide signaling and lipid composition modulating membrane properties.

Membraneremodeling is central to endocytosis and exocytosis at the plasma membrane, vesicular transport between organelles, autophagy, and cytokinesis. It shapes organelles such as the Golgi apparatus, endosomes, lysosomes, and mitochondria, and thus influences signaling, metabolism, and developmental programs. Disruption of remodeling pathways can contribute to diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic perturbations, highlighting its biological importance.

Research approaches combine live-cell imaging, electron microscopy, and in vitro reconstitution to dissect the roles of individual proteins and lipids. Techniques such as cryo-EM, fluorescence spectroscopy, and lipidomics help quantify curvature, tension, and remodeling dynamics, advancing understanding of how membranes are sculpted in health and disease.