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Electrostatics of membrane adhesion.

S Marcelja1

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT.

Biophysical Journal
|May 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Electrical double layer interactions shift from repulsive to attractive when divalent counterions are present, potentially driving membrane fusion. This finding is crucial for understanding cell adhesion mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Electrical double layer interactions are critical in biological processes like membrane fusion.
  • The Poisson-Boltzmann approximation is typically used but fails with high ion concentrations.
  • Understanding forces during membrane fusion is essential for cell biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate electrical double layer interactions during membrane fusion.
  • To determine the effect of divalent counterions on these interactions.
  • To explore the role of electrostatic forces in membrane adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the anisotropic hypernetted chain (AHNC) method.
  • Studied ion-ion correlations beyond the Poisson-Boltzmann approximation.
  • Considered conditions relevant to physiological membrane fusion.

Main Results:

  • Monovalent electrolytes result in repulsive forces, calculable by Poisson-Boltzmann.
  • Divalent counterions induce strong ion-ion correlations, invalidating Poisson-Boltzmann.
  • The presence of divalent counterions leads to attractive electrostatic forces.

Conclusions:

  • Divalent counterions can reverse the double layer interaction from repulsive to attractive.
  • This electrostatic attraction may be a key factor in balancing forces during membrane adhesion.
  • The AHNC method provides a more accurate model for complex ionic environments.

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