Tubular membrane formation of binary giant unilamellar vesicles composed of cylinder and inverse-cone-shaped lipids.

ABSTRACT: We have succeeded in controlling tubular membrane formations in binary giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) using a simple temperature changing between the homogeneous one-phase region and the two-phase coexistence region. The binary GUV is composed of inverse-cone (bulky hydrocarbon chains and a small headgroup) and cylinder-shaped lipids. When the temperature was set in the two-phase coexistence region, the binary GUV had a spherical shape with solidlike domains. By increasing the temperature to the homogeneous one-phase region, the excess area created by the chain melting of the lipid produced tubes inside the GUV. The tubes had a radius on the micrometer scale and were stable in the one-phase region. When we again decreased the temperature to the two-phase coexisting region, the tubes reg

SUBMITTER: Sakuma Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3824544 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature