Structural changes of pulled vesicles: a Brownian dynamics simulation.
We studied the structural changes of bilayer vesicles induced by mechanical forces using a Brownian dynamics simulation. Two nanoparticles, which interact repulsively with amphiphilic molecules, are put inside a vesicle. The position of one nanoparticle is fixed, and the other is moved by a constant force as in optical-trapping experiments. First, the pulled vesicle stretches into a pear or tube shape. Then the inner monolayer in the tube-shaped region is deformed, and a cylindrical structure is formed between two vesicles. After stretching the cylindrical region, fission occurs near the moved vesicle. Soon after this the cylindrical region shrinks. The trapping force approximately 100 pN is needed to induce the formation of the cylindrical structure and fission.
Noguchi
Hiroshi
H
Department of Applied Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan. noguchi@ims.ac.jp
Takasu
Masako
M
D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011336:Probability; D013997:Time Factors
D008051:Lipid Bilayers