Lipid membrane-mediated attraction between curvature inducing objects
Casper Van Der Wel (Universiteit Leiden)
Afshin Vahid (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - BN/Timon Idema Lab)
Andela ŠariĆ (University College London)
T. Idema (TU Delft - BN/Timon Idema Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Doris Heinrich (Universiteit Leiden, Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research)
Daniela J. Kraft (Universiteit Leiden)
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Abstract
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.
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