Cluster phases of membrane proteins

Abstract

A physical scenario accounting for the existence of size-limited submicrometric domains in cell membranes is proposed. It is based on the numerical investigation of the counterpart, in lipidic membranes where proteins are diffusing, of the recently discovered cluster phases in colloidal suspensions. I demonstrate that the interactions between proteins, namely short-range attraction and longer-range repulsion, make possible the existence of stable small clusters. The consequences are explored in terms of membrane organization and diffusion properties. The connection with lipid rafts is discussed and the apparent protein diffusion coefficient as a function of their concentration is analyzed.

5 pages - enhanced version

Cited by in corpus (9)

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• A rationale for mesoscopic domain formation in biomembranes
• An alternative scenario for the formation of specialized protein nano-domains (cluster phases) in biomembranes
• Collective response of self-organised clusters of mechanosensitive channels
• Clustering in quasi-two-dimensional dispersions of Brownian particles with competitive interactions: Phase diagram and structural properties
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