With the full treatment of the Helfrich model we theoretically study the symmetrical adhesion of two cylindrical colloids to a tubular membrane. The adhesion of the rigid cylinders with different radius from the membr...With the full treatment of the Helfrich model we theoretically study the symmetrical adhesion of two cylindrical colloids to a tubular membrane. The adhesion of the rigid cylinders with different radius from the membrane tube surface can produce both shallow wrapping with relatively small wrapping angle and deep wrapping with big wrapping angle. These significant structural behaviors can be obtained by analyzing the system energy. A second order adhesion transition from the desorbed to weakly adhered states is found, and a first order phase transition where the cylindrical colloids undergo an abrupt transition from weakly adhered to strongly adhered states can be obtained as well.展开更多
On the basis of Helfrich＇s bending energy model, we show that the adsorption process of a small spherical particle to a closed vesicle can be analytically studied by retaining the leading terms in an expansion of the...On the basis of Helfrich＇s bending energy model, we show that the adsorption process of a small spherical particle to a closed vesicle can be analytically studied by retaining the leading terms in an expansion of the shape equation. Our general derivation predicts the optimal binding sites on a vesicle, where the local membrane shape of the binding site could be non-axisymmetric before the continuous adhesion transition takes place. Our derivation avoids directly solving the shape equation and depends on an integration of the contact-line condition. The results are verified by several examples of independent numerical solutions.展开更多
Membrane fusion is an important process by which biological membranes perform their life activities. Simulations show that the membrane fusion process happens mainly through three pathways, where the Stalk-Pore hypoth...Membrane fusion is an important process by which biological membranes perform their life activities. Simulations show that the membrane fusion process happens mainly through three pathways, where the Stalk-Pore hypothesis, in which two membranes come into close contact to form a stalk to a hemifusion intermediate, and then the fusion pore opens to achieve completely fusion, is widely accepted, and there exist two free energy barriers that break the current structural steady state for lipid rearrangement. Factors of lipid composition, mechanical environment, protein and ion have regulatory roles in the membrane fusion process by effecting membrane curvature structurally and the free energy barriers from energetic perspective. Meanwhile, many theoretical models, represented by the Helfrich model, have been proposed to predict the membrane fusion process. In this paper, we review the research process of membrane fusion and mainly introduce the dynamics of membrane fusion, regulation factors and typical theoretical models.展开更多
We investigate the structure of multiple spherical particles confined in a soft membrane tube that originally has a cylindrical shape. Assuming an attraction energy between the surface of the spherical particle and th...We investigate the structure of multiple spherical particles confined in a soft membrane tube that originally has a cylindrical shape. Assuming an attraction energy between the surface of the spherical particle and the inner wall of the membrane tube, we show that a variety of conformational structures can be stabilized on the basis of analyzing a Helfrich energy for the soft tube. Using a numerical approach, we calculate the phase diagram in terms of basic parameters in the system. Structures that prefer close contact of spheres and structures that contain well separated spheres are found in this calculation.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11074151)the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2011CB808100)
文摘With the full treatment of the Helfrich model we theoretically study the symmetrical adhesion of two cylindrical colloids to a tubular membrane. The adhesion of the rigid cylinders with different radius from the membrane tube surface can produce both shallow wrapping with relatively small wrapping angle and deep wrapping with big wrapping angle. These significant structural behaviors can be obtained by analyzing the system energy. A second order adhesion transition from the desorbed to weakly adhered states is found, and a first order phase transition where the cylindrical colloids undergo an abrupt transition from weakly adhered to strongly adhered states can be obtained as well.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11074047 and 11274075)the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(Grant No.RFDP-20100071110006)the Natural Science and Science Engineering Council of Canada
文摘On the basis of Helfrich＇s bending energy model, we show that the adsorption process of a small spherical particle to a closed vesicle can be analytically studied by retaining the leading terms in an expansion of the shape equation. Our general derivation predicts the optimal binding sites on a vesicle, where the local membrane shape of the binding site could be non-axisymmetric before the continuous adhesion transition takes place. Our derivation avoids directly solving the shape equation and depends on an integration of the contact-line condition. The results are verified by several examples of independent numerical solutions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 32130061 and 12172366)。
文摘Membrane fusion is an important process by which biological membranes perform their life activities. Simulations show that the membrane fusion process happens mainly through three pathways, where the Stalk-Pore hypothesis, in which two membranes come into close contact to form a stalk to a hemifusion intermediate, and then the fusion pore opens to achieve completely fusion, is widely accepted, and there exist two free energy barriers that break the current structural steady state for lipid rearrangement. Factors of lipid composition, mechanical environment, protein and ion have regulatory roles in the membrane fusion process by effecting membrane curvature structurally and the free energy barriers from energetic perspective. Meanwhile, many theoretical models, represented by the Helfrich model, have been proposed to predict the membrane fusion process. In this paper, we review the research process of membrane fusion and mainly introduce the dynamics of membrane fusion, regulation factors and typical theoretical models.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11074151)
文摘We investigate the structure of multiple spherical particles confined in a soft membrane tube that originally has a cylindrical shape. Assuming an attraction energy between the surface of the spherical particle and the inner wall of the membrane tube, we show that a variety of conformational structures can be stabilized on the basis of analyzing a Helfrich energy for the soft tube. Using a numerical approach, we calculate the phase diagram in terms of basic parameters in the system. Structures that prefer close contact of spheres and structures that contain well separated spheres are found in this calculation.
