J. Mima

The small GTPase Arf6 functions as a membrane tether in a chemically-defined reconstitution system

This study shows Arf6 can directly tether lipid bilayers in a chemically-defined system, while Arf1 lacks this ability, suggesting Arf6's role in membrane tethering during trafficking.

Membrane tethering potency of Rab-family small GTPases is defined by the C-terminal hypervariable regions

This study shows that the C-terminal hypervariable regions (HVRs) of Rab-family GTPases regulate their membrane tethering potency by controlling the attachment of the G-domain to membranes.

Gatekeeper helix activates Golgi SM protein Sly1 and directly mediates close-range vesicle tethering

The paper identifies a gatekeeper helix in Sly1 that binds membranes to relieve autoinhibition and mediate close-range vesicle tethering in the early secretory pathway.

Curvature-sensitive trans-assembly of human Atg8-family proteins in autophagy-related membrane tethering

This study investigates how human Atg8-family proteins, LC3B and GATE-16, mediate membrane tethering during autophagosome formation, revealing curvature-dependent differences in their efficiency.

Homotypic and heterotypic trans-assembly of human Rab-family small GTPases in reconstituted membrane tethering

This study investigates how human Rab-family GTPases mediate membrane tethering through homotypic and heterotypic trans-assembly in a reconstituted system, revealing their specific and synergistic roles.

Human Rab small GTPase- and class V myosin-mediated membrane tethering in a chemically defined reconstitution system

This study reconstitutes membrane tethering using purified Rab proteins and synthetic membranes, showing Rab-family GTPases directly mediate tethering and that class V myosins enhance Rab11a-mediated tethering.