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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions
Published on: May 27, 2021
Elastic interaction of point defects on biological membranes
1Groupe de Recherche sur les phénomènes hors équilibre, Laboratoire de spectrometrie physique, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble I, BP 87, F-38402 Saint Martin d'Hères cedex, France.
Abstract:
The interaction between inclusions mediated by biological membranes undulations is analyzed. The interaction law is interpreted in terms of symmetries associated with inclusions. We show, in particular, that for a C3 and C3v symmetries the interaction law falls as 1/r3. We show that for completely isotropic inclusions, the dominant interaction vanishes to all orders, and the first contribution stems from the induced interaction which behaves as 1/r4. The same law holds for any other symmetry which is higher than C4. We introduce a straightforward method to compute these interactions. We point out important differences with results in the literature and explain the discrepancies.
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