Curvature effects on membrane-mediated interactions of inclusions.
We study the static, long-range interactions of inclusions embedded in lipid membranes. By using a two-dimensional model, we are able to determine explicitly the closed equilibrium shape of the membrane for any value of the distance between the inclusions; our results show that these shapes cannot be obtained by linearizing the equilibrium equations near a referential shape. Moreover, by computing the membrane-mediated force between the inclusions in given static conditions, we also detect the effects on the interactions due to the curvature and the closed geometry of the membrane.
Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano. Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy. paolo.biscari@polimi.it
Paolo
P
Biscari
Fulvio
F
Bisi
Riccardo
R
Rosso
D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D013499:Surface Properties
D006017:Glycolipids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins