Differential geometry of a model membrane consisting of a lipid bilayer with a regular array of protein units

Abstract

Assuming a regular packing of protein units in a lipid bilayer, corresponding to a model of the structure of biomembranes, the possibility of formation of two-dimensional minimal surfaces is analysed. Such intrinsically curved lipid bilayers are able to accomodate varying amounts of lipid bilayers per unit front of membrane. This property is particularly interesting in order to explain the large variations of lipid materials involved in endo- and exocytosis. A theory for transformations between such minimal surfaces, which can account for continuous variations of lipid bilayers per unit front, is presented. Show more