Self-assembly of membrane junctions.
We present a mechanism for the aggregation of mobile intermembrane junctions, such as the connexon dyad of gap junctions. The model demonstrates that intermembrane repulsion provides a powerful self-assembly pressure. If the membrane repulsion is strong enough to prevent membrane adhesion, then the self-assembly pressure is of effective infinite range.
Bruinsma
R
R
Department of Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106-9530.
Goulian
M
M
Pincus
P
P
D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical