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Biophys. J. BioFAST: First Published May 13, 2005. doi:10.1529/biophysj.104.049692
© 2005 by the Biophysical Society.

A more recent version of this article appeared on August 1, 2005.
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MEMBRANES

Membrane elasticity in giant vesicles with fluid phase coexistence

Tobias Baumgart 1, Sovan Lal Das 1, Watt Wetmore Webb 1* and James Thomas Jenkins 1

1 Cornell University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: www2{at}cornell.edu.

Submitted on July 16, 2004
Revised on September 4, 2004
Accepted on 28 April 2005


  Abstract
Biological membranes are known to contain compositional heterogeneities, often termed rafts, with distinguishable composition and function and these participate in vigorous transport processes. Membrane lipid phase coexistence is expected to modulate these processes through the differing mechanical properties of the bulk domains and line tension at phase boundaries. In this contribution, we compare the predictions from a shape theory derived for vesicles with fluid phase coexistence (Juelicher F. and Lipowsky R. 1996) to the geometry of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with coexisting liquid disordered (Ld) and liquid ordered (Lo) phase. We find a bending modulus for the Lo phase higher than that of the Ld phase and a saddle splay (Gauss) modulus difference with the Gauss modulus of the Lo phase being more negative than the Ld phase. The Gauss modulus critically influences membrane processes that change topology, such as vesicle fission or fusion, and could therefore be of significant biological relevance in heterogeneous membranes. Our observations of experimental vesicle geometries being modulated by Gaussian curvature moduli differences confirms the prediction by the theory of Juelicher et al.

Key Words: Bending modulus, Gauss curvature, line tension, liposome, raft, saddle splay




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Copyright © 2005 by the Biophysical Society.