Active Fusion and Fission Processes on a Fluid Membrane

Madan Rao; Sarasij R. C

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.128101

Active Fusion and Fission Processes on a Fluid Membrane

Madan Rao and Sarasij R. C.

Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 128101 – Published 31 August 2001

Abstract

We investigate the steady states and dynamical instabilities resulting from “particles” depositing on (fusion) and pinching off (fission) a fluid membrane. These particles could be either small lipid vesicles or isolated proteins. In the stable case, such fusion/fission events suppress long wavelength fluctuations of the membrane. In the unstable case, the membrane shoots out long tubular structures reminiscent of endosomal compartments or folded structures which bear a morphological resemblance to internal membranes of the cell.

Received 11 September 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.128101

Authors & Affiliations

Madan Rao^1,2,* and Sarasij R. C.^1,†

¹Raman Research Institute, C.V. Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore 560080, India
²National Centre for Biological Sciences, UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India

^*Email address: madan@rri.res.in
^†Email address: sarasij@rri.res.in