Biology

Biophysics

Membrane curvature

Lipid bilayer

Cell biology

Immunology

Wound healing

Cell membrane

Biochemistry

Annexin

Elasticity of cell membranes

Membrane protein

Cell

Membrane

Chemistry

Annexin A2

Integral membrane protein

Nature Communications

Efficient cell membrane repair mechanisms are essential for maintaining membrane integrity and thus for cell life. Here we show that the Ca2+- and phospholipid-binding proteins annexin A4 and A6 are involved in plasma membrane repair and needed for rapid closure of micron-size holes. We demonstrate that annexin A4 binds to artificial membranes and generates curvature force initiated from free edges, whereas annexin A6 induces constriction force. In cells, plasma membrane injury and Ca2+ influx recruit annexin A4 to the vicinity of membrane wound edges where its homo-trimerization leads to membrane curvature near the edges. We propose that curvature force is utilized together with annexin A6-mediated constriction force to pull the wound edges together for eventual fusion. We show that annexin A4 can counteract various plasma membrane disruptions including holes of several micrometers indicating that induction of curvature force around wound edges is an early key event in cell membrane repair.

Annexin A4 and A6 induce membrane curvature and constriction during cell membrane repair