Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube
<p>Abstract</p> <p>In this study we report a physical analysis of the membrane mechanics affecting the size of the highly curved region of a lipid nanotube (LNT) that is either connected between a lipid bilayer vesicle and the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (tube-only) or be...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Nanoscale Research Letters |
| Online Access: | http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/421 |
| _version_ | 1827884784305569792 |
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| author | Voinova Marina Kurczy Michael Cans Ann-Sofie Adams Kelly Grzhibovskis Richards Karlsson Roger Ewing Andrew |
| author_facet | Voinova Marina Kurczy Michael Cans Ann-Sofie Adams Kelly Grzhibovskis Richards Karlsson Roger Ewing Andrew |
| author_sort | Voinova Marina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>In this study we report a physical analysis of the membrane mechanics affecting the size of the highly curved region of a lipid nanotube (LNT) that is either connected between a lipid bilayer vesicle and the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (tube-only) or between a lipid bilayer vesicle and a vesicle that is attached to the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (two-vesicle). For the tube-only configuration (TOC), a micropipette is used to pull a LNT into the interior of a surface-immobilized vesicle, where the length of the tube <it>L </it>is determined by the distance of the micropipette to the vesicle wall. For the two-vesicle configuration (TVC), a small vesicle is inflated at the tip of the micropipette tip and the length of the tube <it>L </it>is in this case determined by the distance between the two interconnected vesicles. An electrochemical method monitoring diffusion of electroactive molecules through the nanotube has been used to determine the radius of the nanotube <it>R </it>as a function of nanotube length <it>L </it>for the two configurations. The data show that the LNT connected in the TVC constricts to a smaller radius in comparison to the tube-only mode and that tube radius shrinks at shorter tube lengths. To explain these electrochemical data, we developed a theoretical model taking into account the free energy of the membrane regions of the vesicles, the LNT and the high curvature junctions. In particular, this model allows us to estimate the surface tension coefficients from <it>R</it>(<it>L</it>) measurements.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:35:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d483198b53034f5b94cc0f58ae4a24e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1931-7573 1556-276X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:35:53Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanoscale Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-d483198b53034f5b94cc0f58ae4a24e42023-08-02T04:14:01ZengSpringerOpenNanoscale Research Letters1931-75731556-276X2011-01-0161421Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotubeVoinova MarinaKurczy MichaelCans Ann-SofieAdams KellyGrzhibovskis RichardsKarlsson RogerEwing Andrew<p>Abstract</p> <p>In this study we report a physical analysis of the membrane mechanics affecting the size of the highly curved region of a lipid nanotube (LNT) that is either connected between a lipid bilayer vesicle and the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (tube-only) or between a lipid bilayer vesicle and a vesicle that is attached to the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (two-vesicle). For the tube-only configuration (TOC), a micropipette is used to pull a LNT into the interior of a surface-immobilized vesicle, where the length of the tube <it>L </it>is determined by the distance of the micropipette to the vesicle wall. For the two-vesicle configuration (TVC), a small vesicle is inflated at the tip of the micropipette tip and the length of the tube <it>L </it>is in this case determined by the distance between the two interconnected vesicles. An electrochemical method monitoring diffusion of electroactive molecules through the nanotube has been used to determine the radius of the nanotube <it>R </it>as a function of nanotube length <it>L </it>for the two configurations. The data show that the LNT connected in the TVC constricts to a smaller radius in comparison to the tube-only mode and that tube radius shrinks at shorter tube lengths. To explain these electrochemical data, we developed a theoretical model taking into account the free energy of the membrane regions of the vesicles, the LNT and the high curvature junctions. In particular, this model allows us to estimate the surface tension coefficients from <it>R</it>(<it>L</it>) measurements.</p>http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/421 |
| spellingShingle | Voinova Marina Kurczy Michael Cans Ann-Sofie Adams Kelly Grzhibovskis Richards Karlsson Roger Ewing Andrew Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube Nanoscale Research Letters |
| title | Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| title_full | Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| title_fullStr | Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| title_short | Mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| title_sort | mechanics of lipid bilayer junctions affecting the size of a connecting lipid nanotube |
| url | http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/421 |
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