A Model for Membrane Patchiness: Lateral Diffusion in the Presence of Barriers and Vesicle Traffic

Patches (lateral heterogeneities) of cell surface membrane proteins and lipids have been imaged by a number of different microscopy techniques. This patchiness has been taken as evidence for the organization of membranes into domains whose composition differs from the average for the entire membrane...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 1999-12, Vol.77 (6), p.3163-3175
Main Authors: Gheber, Levi A., Edidin, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Biophysical Phenomena
Biophysics
Cell Membrane - chemistry
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Computer Simulation
Diffusion
Lipids
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Lipids - chemistry
Membrane Lipids - metabolism
Membrane Proteins - chemistry
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Membranes
Models, Biological
Molecular biology
Proteins
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Summary:Patches (lateral heterogeneities) of cell surface membrane proteins and lipids have been imaged by a number of different microscopy techniques. This patchiness has been taken as evidence for the organization of membranes into domains whose composition differs from the average for the entire membrane. However, the mechanism and specificity of patch formation are not understood. Here we show how vesicle traffic to and from a cell surface membrane can create patches of molecules of the size observed experimentally. Our computer model takes into account lateral diffusion, barriers to lateral diffusion, and vesicle traffic to and from the plasma membrane. Neither barriers nor vesicle traffic alone create and maintain patches. Only the combination of these produces a dynamic but persistent patchiness of membrane proteins and lipids.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(99)77147-X