Adhesion of nanoparticles to vesicles: a Brownian dynamics simulation.
We studied the interaction of bilayer vesicles and adhesive nanoparticles using a Brownian dynamics simulation. The nanoparticles are simple models of proteins or colloids. The adhering nanoparticle induces the morphological change of the vesicle: budding, formation of two vesicles in which only outer monolayers are connected, and fission. We also show that the nanoparticle promotes the fusion process: fusion-pore opening from a stalk intermediate, a neck-like structure that only connects outer monolayers of two vesicles. The nanoparticle bends the stalk, and induces the pore opening.
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*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D008051:Lipid Bilayers