Biophysical Journal 52: 391-400 (1987)
© 1987 the Biophysical Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Waugh, R E Articles by Hochmuth, R M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Waugh, R E Articles by Hochmuth, R M

Mechanical equilibrium of thick, hollow, liquid membrane cylinders.

Department of Biophysics, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.

ABSTRACT

The mechanical equilibrium of bilayer membrane cylinders is analyzed. The analysis is motivated by the observation that mechanically formed membrane strands (tethers) can support significant axial loads and that the tether radius varies inversely with the axial force. Previously, thin shell theory has been used to analyze the tether formation process, but this approach is inadequate for describing and predicting the equilibrium state of the tether itself. In the present work the membrane is modeled as two adjacent, thick, anisotropic liquid shells. The analysis predicts an inverse relationship between axial force and tether radius, which is consistent with experimental observation. The area expansivity modulus and bending stiffness of the tether membrane are calculated using previously measured values of tether radii. These calculated values are consistent with values of membrane properties measured previously. Application of the analysis to precise measurements of the relationship between tether radius and axial force will provide a novel method for determining the mechanical properties of biomembrane.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Butler, N. Mohandas, and R. E. Waugh Integral Protein Linkage and the Bilayer-Skeletal Separation Energy in Red Blood Cells Biophys. J., August 15, 2008; 95(4): 1826 - 1836. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Glassinger and R. M. Raphael Influence of Thermally Driven Surface Undulations on Tethers Formed from Bilayer Membranes Biophys. J., July 15, 2006; 91(2): 619 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Brochard-Wyart, N. Borghi, D. Cuvelier, and P. Nassoy Hydrodynamic narrowing of tubes extruded from cells PNAS, May 16, 2006; 103(20): 7660 - 7663. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. Murdock, S. A. Ermilov, A. A. Spector, A. S. Popel, W. E. Brownell, and B. Anvari Effects of Chlorpromazine on Mechanical Properties of the Outer Hair Cell Plasma Membrane Biophys. J., December 1, 2005; 89(6): 4090 - 4095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Cuvelier, I. Derenyi, P. Bassereau, and P. Nassoy Coalescence of Membrane Tethers: Experiments, Theory, and Applications Biophys. J., April 1, 2005; 88(4): 2714 - 2726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Roopa, N. Kumar, S. Bhattacharya, and G. V. Shivashankar Dynamics of Membrane Nanotubulation and DNA Self-Assembly Biophys. J., August 1, 2004; 87(2): 974 - 979. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Cowan, E. M. Olivastro, D. E. Koppel, C. A. Loshon, B. Setlow, and P. Setlow Lipids in the inner membrane of dormant spores of Bacillus species are largely immobile PNAS, May 18, 2004; 101(20): 7733 - 7738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Hochmuth and W. D. Marcus Membrane Tethers Formed from Blood Cells with Available Area and Determination of Their Adhesion Energy Biophys. J., June 1, 2002; 82(6): 2964 - 2969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T Tani, R. Allen, and Y Naitoh Cellular membranes that undergo cyclic changes in tension: Direct measurement of force generation by an in vitro contractile vacuole of Paramecium multimicronucleatum J. Cell Sci., January 2, 2001; 114(4): 785 - 795. [Abstract] [PDF]