Elastic Membrane Deformations Govern Interleaflet Coupling of Lipid-Ordered Domains

Timur R. Galimzyanov, Rodion J. Molotkovsky, Marine E. Bozdaganyan, Fredric S. Cohen, Peter Pohl, and Sergey A. Akimov

Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 088101 – Published 18 August 2015

Abstract

The mechanism responsible for domain registration in two membrane leaflets has thus far remained enigmatic. Using continuum elasticity theory, we show that minimum line tension is achieved along the rim between thicker (ordered) and thinner (disordered) domains by shifting the rims in opposing leaflets by a few nanometers relative to each other. Increasing surface tension yields an increase in line tension, resulting in larger domains. Because domain registration is driven by lipid deformation energy, it does not require special lipid components or interactions at the membrane midplane.

Received 3 February 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.088101

Authors & Affiliations

Timur R. Galimzyanov^1,2, Rodion J. Molotkovsky¹, Marine E. Bozdaganyan^3,4, Fredric S. Cohen⁵, Peter Pohl⁶, and Sergey A. Akimov^1,2,*

¹A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31/5 Leninskiy prospekt, Moscow 119071, Russia
²National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 4 Leninskiy prospekt, Moscow 119049, Russia
³M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
⁴Federal Research Clinical Center of the Specialized Types of Health Care and Medical Technologies FMBA of Russia, 28 Orekhovyi bulvar, Moscow 115692, Russia
⁵Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
⁶Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstrasse 40-42, Linz 4020, Austria