Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
Published on: December 7, 2017
Curvature-dependent elastic properties of liquid-ordered domains result in inverted domain sorting on uniaxially
H Jelger Risselada1, Siewert Jan Marrink, Marcus Müller
1Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. hrissel@gwdg.de
Abstract:
Using a coarse-grained molecular model we study the spatial distribution of lipid domains on a 20-nm-sized vesicle. The lipid mixture laterally phase separates into a raftlike, liquid-ordered (l(o)) phase and a liquid-disordered phase. As we uniaxially compress the mixed vesicle keeping the enclosed volume constant, we impart tension onto the membrane. The vesicle adopts a barrel shape, which is composed of two flat contact zones and a curved edge. The l(o) domain, which exhibits a higher bending rigidity, segregates to the highly curved edge. This inverted domain sorting switches to normal domain sorting, where the l(o) domain prefers the flat contact zone, when we release the contents of the vesicle. We rationalize this domain sorting by a pronounced reduction of the bending rigidity and area compressibility of the l(o) phase upon bending.
More Related Videos
10:08Phase Behavior of Charged Vesicles Under Symmetric and Asymmetric Solution Conditions Monitored with Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: October 24, 2017
09:29Obtention of Giant Unilamellar Hybrid Vesicles by Electroformation and Measurement of their Mechanical Properties by Micropipette Aspiration
Published on: January 19, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...