Vesicle budding induced by binding of curvature-inducing proteins.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Theoretical Physics

Background:

• Vesicle formation is crucial for cellular processes.
• Protein binding influences membrane shape and dynamics.
• Understanding spontaneous curvature is key to vesicle budding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vesicle budding driven by protein binding.
• To explore the role of spontaneous curvature in bud formation.
• To analyze the transition between different budding states.

Main Methods:

• Mean-field theory applied to protein-membrane interactions.
• Modeling of isotropic spontaneous curvature generation.
• Analysis of phase transitions in vesicle budding.

Main Results:

• Protein binding induces spherical bud formation.
• A first-order phase transition is observed between few large and many small buds.
• This transition depends on spontaneous curvature and bending rigidity.
• Interactions, area changes, and elasticity moduli affect budding.

Conclusions:

• The mean-field model successfully describes protein-induced vesicle budding.
• The study clarifies the conditions for distinct budding morphologies.
• Differences between curvature sensing and generation are elucidated.