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Excess area dependent scaling behavior of nano-sized membrane tethers
N Ramakrishnan1, K K Sreeja2, Arpita Roychoudhury3
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States of America.
Physical Biology
|November 9, 2017
Summary
We developed a computational method to measure excess cell membrane area, a key factor in cellular processes. This technique accurately estimates membrane properties in live cells, aiding in understanding cell mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cellular Mechanics
- Membrane Physics
Background:
- Thermal fluctuations in cell membranes create excess area, influencing sub-micron physical processes.
- Accurate measurement of this excess area is crucial for understanding cell membrane behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a theoretical framework for reliably estimating excess membrane area ([Formula: see text]) in live cells.
- To validate a computational tether pulling method against experimental data.
Main Methods:
- Developed an in silico tether pulling method.
- Performed simulations in constant projected area and constant frame tension ensembles.
- Compared simulation results with experimental measurements from GUVs and HeLa cells.
Main Results:
- Tether forces from simulations align with experimental measurements.
- Unified scaling relationships were established for tether force, radius, bending stiffness, and membrane tension across 15 cell types.
- Excess area ([Formula: see text]) significantly determines tether radius and exhibits linear scaling with membrane properties.
Conclusions:
- The proposed in silico tether pulling method reliably estimates excess membrane area in live cells.
- The study provides a self-consistent technique to determine the range of excess membrane areas.
- Findings offer insights into cell mechanics and membrane biophysics.
