How bio-filaments twist membranes

Soft Matter. 2016 Jun 29;12(26):5747-57. doi: 10.1039/c6sm00616g.

Abstract

We study the deformations of a fluid membrane imposed by adhering stiff bio-filaments due to the torques they apply. In the limit of small deformations, we derive a general expression for the energy and the deformation field of the membrane. This expression is specialised to different important cases including closed and helical bio-filaments. In particular, we analyse interface-mediated interactions and membrane wrapping when the filaments apply a local torque distribution on a tubular membrane.

MeSH terms

  • Cytoskeleton / chemistry*
  • Membranes / chemistry*
  • Torque