Lipid composition and properties play an important role in many cellular properties such as
fusion of vesicles to cell membranes, an essential process for exocytosis. Using a model
system composed of artificial vesicles (liposomes) and artificial membranes (planar lipid
bilayers), we observed that fusion is significantly affected by the lipid phase of the planar
membrane. To determine the effect of lipid phases on fusion rates, we utilized the
nystatin/ergosterol fusion assay and stimulated fusion with an osmotic gradient. Phase of the …