title: Active fusion and fission processes on a fluid membrane.
abstract: We investigate the steady states and dynamical instabilities resulting from "particles" depositing on (fusion) and pinching off (fission) a fluid membrane. These particles could be either small lipid vesicles or isolated proteins. In the stable case, such fusion/fission events suppress long wavelength fluctuations of the membrane. In the unstable case, the membrane shoots out long tubular structures reminiscent of endosomal compartments or folded structures which bear a morphological resemblance to internal membranes of the cell.
authors.affiliation: Raman Research Institute, C.V. Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore 560080, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sarasij
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins