In fertilization, cell division, synaptic transmission or hormone secretion, membrane fusion is a key step. Similarly, membrane fusion is a fundamental process during viral infection or tumor cellular division

We study the Biophysics and Cellular Biology of the fusion pore, the key element that leads to membrane fusion and plays a critical role in Synaptic Transmission.

We use the patch clamp technique (Cell membrane capacitance measurements to monitor cell surface area) and microamperometry of single secretory vesicles to study of the fusion pore. The fusion pore develops in several stages during its expansion. We try to identify the structure-function relationship of the fusion pore. To study the role of the fusion pore in synaptic transmission and vesicle recycling we use imaging techniques and microspectroscopy. In addition, we use Monte Carlo simulations and kinetics models to characterize the Biophyscial properties of the fusion pore.

Our results have shown that membrane fusion can be a reversible phenomenon, releasing part or all of the vesicle contents during transient openeing of the fusion pore.

These results have revived the hypothesis first proposed by Bruno Ceccarelli about synaptic vesicle recycling. Term kiss-and-run (Meldolesi et al. 1994),  after our work published in Nature in 1993 . Read News & Views by Erwin Neher on this work.