Membrane fission by dynamin: what we know and what we need to know

Bruno Antonny, Christopher Burd, Pietro De Camilli, Elizabeth Chen, Oliver Daumke, Katja Faelber, Marijn Ford, Vadim A. Frolov, Adam Frost, Jenny E. Hinshaw, Tom Kirchhausen, Michael M. Kozlov, Martin Lenz, Harry H. Low, Harvey McMahon, Christien Merrifield, Thomas D. Pollard, Phillip J. Robinson, Aurélien Roux, Sandra L Schmid

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

314 Scopus citations

Abstract

The large GTPase dynamin is the first protein shown to catalyze membrane fission. Dynamin and its related proteins are essential to many cell functions, from endocytosis to organelle division and fusion, and it plays a critical role in many physiological functions such as synaptic transmission and muscle contraction. Research of the past three decades has focused on understanding how dynamin works. In this review, we present the basis for an emerging consensus on how dynamin functions. Three properties of dynamin are strongly supported by experimental data: first, dynamin oligomerizes into a helical polymer; second, dynamin oligomer constricts in the presence of GTP; and third, dynamin catalyzes membrane fission upon GTP hydrolysis. We present the two current models for fission, essentially diverging in how GTP energy is spent. We further discuss how future research might solve the remaining open questions presently under discussion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2270-2284
Number of pages15
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume35
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2 2016

Keywords

  • GTPase
  • dynamin
  • endocytosis
  • membrane fission
  • molecular motor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Membrane fission by dynamin: what we know and what we need to know'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this