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Fluid-membrane tethers: minimal surfaces and elastic boundary layers.
Thomas R Powers1, Greg Huber, Raymond E Goldstein
1Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. Thomas_Powers@brown.edu
Summary
We modeled thin cylindrical tethers, common in cell membranes and experiments, using the soap-film problem. Tethers form from elastic boundary layers when a point force causes sufficient displacement.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Thin cylindrical tethers are prevalent in biological systems like the Golgi apparatus and in artificial lipid bilayer vesicles.
- Understanding tether formation is crucial for various biological and experimental contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the shape and formation of tethers using principles from the classical soap-film problem.
- To analyze tether formation in a membrane disk under tension subjected to a point force.
Main Methods:
- Applied the classical soap-film problem to a tensioned membrane disk model.
- Analyzed the effects of a point force on membrane deformation.
Main Results:
- A tether forms from the elastic boundary layer near the force application point.
- Tether formation is dependent on the magnitude of displacement caused by the force.
- Derived analytic solutions describing various aspects of the membrane's shape.
Conclusions:
- The soap-film model provides a useful framework for understanding tether formation in lipid membranes.
- The study offers analytical insights into the mechanics of tethering phenomena.