Lipid membrane-mediated attraction between curvature inducing objects.
The interplay of membrane proteins is vital for many biological processes, such as cellular transport, cell division, and signal transduction between nerve cells. Theoretical considerations have led to the idea that the membrane itself mediates protein self-organization in these processes through minimization of membrane curvature energy. Here, we present a combined experimental and numerical study in which we quantify these interactions directly for the first time. In our experimental model system we control the deformation of a lipid membrane by adhering colloidal particles. Using confocal microscopy, we establish that these membrane deformations cause an attractive interaction force leading to reversible binding. The attraction extends over 2.5 times the particle diameter and has a strength of three times the thermal energy (-3.3 kBT). Coarse-grained Monte-Carlo simulations of the system are in excellent agreement with the experimental results and prove that the measured interaction is independent of length scale. Our combined experimental and numerical results reveal membrane curvature as a common physical origin for interactions between any membrane-deforming objects, from nanometre-sized proteins to micrometre-sized particles.
Biological and Soft Matter Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, PO Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Casper
C
van der Wel
Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
Afshin
A
Vahid
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Anđela
A
Šarić
Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
Timon
T
Idema
Biological and Soft Matter Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, PO Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.|Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research, Neunerplatz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany.
Doris
D
Heinrich
Biological and Soft Matter Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, PO Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Daniela J
DJ
Kraft
D001665:Binding Sites; D001710:Biotin / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010316:Particle Size; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry
D003102:Colloids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D001710:Biotin; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine