Regensburg 2022 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 18: Biomaterials (joint session BP/CPP)

BP 18.2: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 7. September 2022, 15:30–15:45, H15

The role of protein constriction in the fission of membrane tubes — •Russell Spencer and Marcus Müller — Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Institute for Theoretical Physics, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

Membrane remodelling, such as fusion and fission, is involved in a variety of basic, cellular processes. When unaided, the free energy barriers for such remodelling can be prohibitively high, so biological systems employ proteins as catalysts. This work investigates the influence of proteins, such as dynamin, which constrict membrane tubes in order to lower the barrier to fission. We are particularly interested in their role in double-membrane fission as it occurs in mitochondrial division. This work employs self-consistent field theory and utilizes the string method to find the Minimum Free Energy Path (MFEP) in order to determine the most likely pathway for the transition. In addition to lowering the free energy barrier, constriction of the tubes also affects the dominant transition pathway. This work explores the interplay between membrane tension and constriction and the effects that these influences have on fission mechanisms of single and double membrane tubes.