Membrane fusion joins initially separate lipid bilayers, changing connections between membrane compartments. It requires controlled rearrangement of both leaflets while avoiding uncontrolled leakage.
A measurement of exchange between previously separate enclosed aqueous compartments. Leakage into the surrounding medium is a different event and needs a separate control.
A readout of lipid redistribution between membrane populations, for example through fluorescence dequenching. It must be distinguished from aqueous content mixing and leakage.
Membrane fusion intermediate in which contacting membrane leaflets have merged while the aqueous compartments remain separate. A lipid mixing assay therefore need not establish full membrane fusion.
A trans-SNARE complex links SNARE proteins anchored in different lipid bilayers. Its formation can bring membranes together before complete membrane fusion.
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