Energy Diagram of Phospholipid Transfer from Membranes with Different Curvature Revealed by Time-Resolved Neutron Scattering

Abstract

Biological membranes continuously change their physical properties, such as lipid composition and curvature, to regulate protein localization and activity, thereby directing biological phenomena. The curvature of biomembranes changes significantly during endocytosis/ exocytosis, intracellular vesicle trafficking, and cell divi-sion. Therefore, it is important to understand the relation-ship between the curvature and physicochemical properties of membranes to better understand the function of biological membranes. Experiments using vesicles as a model for biomembranes allow particles of different di-ameters to be prepared and evaluate how the curvature of the membrane affects its interaction with proteins. On the other hand, it is not fully understood how such changes in membrane curvature affect the properties of the membranes themselves and of the membrane lipids.