ISSN:
1432-1017
Keywords:
Bilayer couple
;
Membrane
;
Non-axisymmetric shapes
;
Phospholipid vesicles
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The existence of non-axisymmetric shapes with minimal bending energy is proved by means of a mathematical model. A parametric model is used; the shapes considered have an elliptical top view whilst their front view contour is described using Cassim ovals. Taking into account the bilayer couple model, the minimization of the membrane bending energy is performed at a constant membrane area A, a constant enclosed volume V and a constant difference between the two membrane leaflet areas ΔA. It is shown that for certain sets of A, V and ΔA the non-axisymmetric shapes calculated with the use of the parametric model have lower energy than the corresponding axisymmetric shapes obtained by the exact solution of the general variational problem. As an exact solution of the general variational problem for non-axisymmetric shapes would yield even lower energy, this indicates the existence of non-axisymmetric shapes with minimal bending energy in a region of the V/4A phase diagram.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00196914
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