Coupling of lipid membrane elasticity and in-plane dynamics

Phys Rev E. 2017 Jul;96(1-1):012410. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.012410. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

Abstract

Biomembranes exhibit liquid and solid features concomitantly with their in-plane fluidity and elasticity tightly regulated by cells. Here, we present experimental evidence supporting the existence of the dynamics-elasticity correlations for lipid membranes and propose a mechanism involving molecular packing densities to explain them. This paper thereby unifies, at the molecular level, the aspects of the continuum mechanics long used to model the two membrane features. This ultimately may elucidate the universal physical principles governing the cellular phenomena involving biomembranes.

MeSH terms

  • Elasticity*
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine
  • 1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine