Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction

Details Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction

2011-07-10

arxiv.org/abs/1107.1854v1

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 284102 (2011)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Soft Condensed Matter

25 pages, 10 figures

Scientific paper

10.1088/0953-8984/23/28/284102

We study a dynamical curvature instability caused by a local chemical modification of a phospholipid membrane. In our experiments, a basic solution is microinjected close to a giant unilamellar vesicle, which induces a local chemical modification of some lipids in the external monolayer of the membrane. This modification causes a local deformation of the vesicle, which then relaxes. We present a theoretical description of this instability, taking into account both the change of the equilibrium lipid density and the change of the spontaneous membrane curvature induced by the chemical modification. We show that these two types of changes of the membrane properties yield different dynamics. In contrast, it is impossible to distinguish them when studying the equilibrium shape of a vesicle subjected to a global modification. In our model, the longest relaxation timescale is related to the intermonolayer friction, which plays an important part when there is a change in the equilibrium density in one monolayer. We compare our experimental results to the predictions of our model by fitting the measured time evolution of the deformation height to the solution of our dynamical equations. We obtain good agreement between theory and experiments. Our fits enable us to estimate the intermonolayer friction coefficient, yielding values that are consistent with previous measurements.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-33668