title: Gradient sensing in reactive, ternary membranes.
abstract: Using computer simulations, we investigate the behavior of reactive ternary ABC membranes that are subjected to an external, spatially nonuniform stimulus, which controls the rate of interconversion between the A and B components. We assume that A and B have different spontaneous curvatures. Furthermore, the C component is taken to be nonreactive and incompatible with both A and B. We find that a gradient in the applied stimulus causes the dynamic reconstruction of the membrane, with a preferential reorientation of the reactive AB domains along the gradient. In addition, the external gradient effectively controls the transport of the nonreactive C component within the membrane. The latter effect could potentially be exploited for cleaning the membrane of the nonreactive C "impurities" or for the targeted delivery of the C component to specific locations.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuksenok
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Balazs
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008954:Models, Biological; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial