Clathrin polymerization exhibits high mechano-geometric sensitivity.

ABSTRACT: How tension modulates cellular transport has become a topic of interest in the recent past. However, the effect of tension on clathrin assembly and vesicle growth remains less understood. Here, we use the classical Helfrich theory to predict the energetic cost that clathrin is required to pay to remodel the membrane at different stages of vesicle formation. Our study reveals that this energetic cost is highly sensitive to not only the tension in the membrane but also to the instantaneous geometry of the membrane during shape evolution. Our study predicts a sharp reduction in clathrin coat size in the intermediate tension regime (0.01-0.1 mN m^-1). Remarkably, the natural propensity of the membrane to undergo bending beyond the Ω shape causes a significant decrease in the energy n

SUBMITTER: Irajizad E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5452080 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature