Fusion and fission pathways of vesicles from amphiphilic triblock copolymers: a dissipative particle dynamics
Xuejin Li1, Yuan Liu, Lei Wang
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations are employed to study the fusion and fission dynamics of polymeric vesicles formed from amphiphilic triblock copolymers. The amphiphilic molecule is built from two hydrophilic blocks and a hydrophobic middle block. Two different pathways for both fusion and fission processes of two-component vesicles with polymer-based symmetric membranes have been found in the simulations. For each of the pathways, the conditions required to obtain complete fusion and fission have been investigated. Moreover, the fission process of single-component vesicles with polymer-based asymmetric membranes has also been studied in the simulations. Interestingly, the daughter vesicles have the same composition as the parent vesicle and only one fission pathway has been observed. Furthermore, the fusion and fission pathways have been compared and distinct vesicle recycling pathways have been suggested according to the results from the simulations. These findings may be helpful in explaining the fusion and fission dynamics of vesicles and understanding the general principle of membranes.
More Related Videos
09:29Obtention of Giant Unilamellar Hybrid Vesicles by Electroformation and Measurement of their Mechanical Properties by Micropipette Aspiration
Published on: January 19, 2020
10:08Phase Behavior of Charged Vesicles Under Symmetric and Asymmetric Solution Conditions Monitored with Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: October 24, 2017
Related Concept Videos
SNAREs and Membrane Fusion
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...
Fluid Mosaic Model
Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles
Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
