Requirement for annexin A1 in plasma membrane repair

Ca²⁺ entering a cell through a torn or disrupted plasma membrane rapidly triggers a combination of homotypic and exocytotic membrane fusion events. These events serve to erect a reparative membrane patch and then anneal it to the defect site. Annexin A1 is a cytosolic protein that, when activated by micromolar Ca²⁺, binds to membrane phospholipids, promoting membrane aggregation and fusion. We demonstrate here that an annexin A1 function-blocking antibody, a small peptide competitor, and a dominant-negative annexin A1 mutant protein incapable of Ca²⁺ binding all inhibit resealing. Moreover, we show that, coincident with a resealing event, annexin A1 becomes concentrated at disruption sites. We propose that Ca²⁺ entering through a disruption locally induces annexin A1 binding to membranes, initiating emergency fusion events whenever and wherever required.