Hydrodynamics of a single filament moving in a spherical membrane

Abstract

Dynamic organization of rod-like proteins and filaments in the cell membrane occurs in many cellular processes, including membrane transport and cell division. The dynamics of a single membrane-bound filament is determined, in part, by its hydrodynamic interactions with the membrane lipids and the surrounding bulk fluids. This study presents the first computation of the translational and rotational resistance of a single filament in a spherical membrane/cell. The boundedness of the spherical geometry gives rise to novel flow confinement effects that increase in strength with increasing the ratio of the filament's length to membrane radius.