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Published on: April 7, 2017
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Surface densities prewet a near-critical membrane
Mason Rouches1,2, Sarah L Veatch3, Benjamin B Machta4,5
1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511; benjamin.machta@yale.edu mason.rouches@yale.edu sveatch@umich.edu.
Summary
Cellular surface densities, like those in signaling clusters, exhibit prewetting-like behavior. Proximity to the membrane
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Cellular processes utilize thermodynamic phase behavior.
- Proteins and nucleic acids undergo phase separation.
- Plasma membranes are near a 2D liquid-liquid critical point.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the physics of surface densities.
- Analyze protein aggregation at membrane domains.
- Understand structures like the postsynaptic density.
Main Methods:
- Minimal polymer simulations.
- Ising membrane surface model.
- Landau theory analysis.
Main Results:
- Surface densities resemble prewetting phenomena.
- Membrane criticality enhances prewetting transitions.
- Three-surface phase coexistence observed.
Conclusions:
- Surface densities share physics with eukaryotic cellular structures.
- Membrane phase separation influences surface phenomena.
- Prewetting-like transitions are crucial in cellular organization.
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