Mesoscale Simulations of Curvature Inducing Proteins on Wavy Membranes

Abstract

Curvature inducing cell membrane proteins migrate along mean curvature gradients during cell membrane remodeling processes such as endocytosis and cell motility. The curvature sensing abilities of these membrane proteins are vital for their localization and subsequent recruitment of other cell constituents to the membrane. Recent experiments have demonstrated the redistribution of curvature inducing proteins along a precurved membrane supported by a wavy substrate. These experiments can elucidate the behavior of curvature inducing proteins over a much smaller curvature range than was analyzed in previous experiments of segregation on pulled membrane tethers. Wavy substrates provide a model system for deconvolution of the slight effects of frame tension and pinning. The surface migration of these proteins along a wavy surface has been investigated using a curvilinear membrane model evolved with Monte Carlo techniques based on the Helfrich Hamiltonian. The migration and segregation of membrane proteins is quantified in simulations with free energy methods incorporating Widom ghost particle insertion and thermodynamic integration.