How Local Forces Deform the Lipid Membranes
Researchers of the Soft Materials group have been able to show why biological cells can take on such an astonishing variety of shapes: it has to do with how the number and strength of local forces acting on the cell membrane from within. This knowledge feeds into the development of better minimal model systems and artificial cells.
Spiny projections, long flagella or fibres, misshapen bulges: biological cells can form almost any complex membrane structure. These structures help the cells to perceive external stimuli, make contact with other cells, or actively explore their environment.
Hanumantha Rao Vutukuri, Masoud Hoore, Clara Abaurrea-Velasco, Lennard van Buren, Alessandro Dutto, Thorsten Auth, Dmitry A. Fedosov, Gerhard Gompper & Jan Vermant. Active particles induce large shape deformations in giant lipid vesicles. Nature, online published on 30.09.2020; external page DPI:10.1038/s41586-020-2730-x