Membrane curvature articles from across Nature Portfolio

The efficiency of protein transfer by extracellular vesicles (EVs) remains unclear. Here, authors show that EVs from cell protrusions deliver functional Rac1 and genome-editing enzymes more efficiently than well-studied endosome-derived EVs, highlighting their potential as delivery tools.

Viruses exploit host cell machinery for replication, but their spatial cues remain elusive. Using nanochip-enabled membrane shaping, the authors discover saddle curvature association of viral proteins, revealing a new spatial regulation mechanism.

Khan et al. perform AAV9-cBIN1 gene therapy in a canine model of acquired chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. They show AAV9-cBIN1 therapy mitigates disease progression and can reverse heart failure in this model.

Coat protein complex II (COPII) subunits assemble to form membrane transport carriers at ER exit sites, thereby concentrating secretory cargoes and facilitating their transport to the Golgi. This Review discusses the mechanisms of coat assembly and disassembly, and cargo recognition by COPII carriers.

Using complementary live cell approaches together with a powerful in vitro reconstitution system, this study demonstrates the direct regulation of mitochondrial dynamics by localized changes to the lipid composition of the outer membrane.

This review highlights current knowledge and recent advances regarding P4-ATPases, focusing on substrate diversity, regulation of cellular localization, enzymatic activities, and their impact on organism homeostasis and diseases.

This Comment draws attention to cellular protrusions as a source of extracellular vesicles (EVs). These protrusion-derived vesicles expand the repertoire of EVs, impacting current nomenclature and our understanding of EV functions in inter-cellular communication.

Cail et al. introduce a platform to study the role of plasma membrane curvature during clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Glycoproteins of the glycocalyx are shown to have the capacity to bend the plasma membrane.

HIV particles incorporate host membrane proteins into their envelope to evade the immune system and infect other cells. A study now shows that Gag assembly on the host cell membrane produces a raft-like nanodomain favourable for protein partitioning due to a transbilayer coupling mechanism assisted by long saturated chain lipids and cholesterol.