From Vesicles to Protocells: The Roles of Amphiphilic Molecules

Life

Yuka Sakuma²  Masayuki Imai¹  Pasquale Stano² 

[1] Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan; E-Mail

关键词: protocell;    vesicle;    deformation;    spontaneous curvature;    phase separation;    adhesion;    pore formation;    self-reproduction;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life5010651

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

It is very challenging to construct protocells from molecular assemblies. An important step in this challenge is the achievement of vesicle dynamics that are relevant to cellular functions, such as membrane trafficking and self-reproduction, using amphiphilic molecules. Soft matter physics will play an important role in the development of vesicles that have these functions. Here, we show that simple binary phospholipid vesicles have the potential to reproduce the relevant functions of adhesion, pore formation and self-reproduction of vesicles, by coupling the lipid geometries (spontaneous curvatures) and the phase separation. This achievement will elucidate the pathway from molecular assembly to cellular life.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.