title: Curvature sorting of proteins on a cylindrical lipid membrane tether connected to a reservoir.
abstract: Membrane curvature of a biological cell is actively involved in various fundamental cell biological functions. It has been discovered that membrane curvature and binding of peripheral membrane proteins follow a symbiotic relationship. The exact mechanism behind this interplay of protein binding and membrane curvature has not yet been properly understood. To improve understanding of the mechanism, we study curvature sorting of proteins in a model system consisting of a tether pulled from a giant unilamellar vesicle using mechanical-thermodynamic models. The concentration of proteins bound to the membrane changes significantly due to curvature. This has also been observed in experiments by other researchers. We also find that there is a phase transition based on protein concentration and we discuss the coexistence of phases and stability of solutions. Furthermore, when sorting is favorable, the increase in protein concentration stabilizes the tether in the sense that less pulling force is required to maintain the tether. A similar mechanism may be in place, when motor proteins pull tethers from donor membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Paritosh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahata
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.forename: Sovan Lal
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes