Alternative Mechanisms of Structuring Biomembranes: Self-Assembly versus Self-Organization

Karin John and Markus Bär
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 198101 – Published 1 November 2005

Abstract

We study two mechanisms for the formation of protein patterns near membranes of living cells by mathematical modelling. Self-assembly of protein domains by electrostatic lipid-protein interactions is contrasted with self-organization due to a nonequilibrium biochemical reaction cycle of proteins near the membrane. While both processes lead eventually to quite similar patterns, their evolution occurs on very different length and time scales. Self-assembly produces periodic protein patterns on a spatial scale below 0.1μm in a few seconds followed by extremely slow coarsening, whereas self-organization results in a pattern wavelength comparable to the typical cell size of 100μm within a few minutes suggesting different biological functions for the two processes.

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  • Received 22 June 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.198101

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Karin John1,* and Markus Bär2,†

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
  • 2Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestrasse 2–12, D-10587 Berlin, Germany

  • *Electronic address: john@mpipks-dresden.mpg.de
  • Electronic address: markus.baer@ptb.de

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 19 — 4 November 2005

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