A

ORAL

Abstract

We report on a complex fingering pattern that forms in an approximately 25μm-diameter circular lipid membrane adhered by biotin-avidin bonds to a solid supported membrane. The experiment involves applying tension to form a tear in the bound circular membrane. The pattern in the torn membrane then evolves as 1μm-scale pores form intermittently on the scale of tens of seconds at the boundary of the tear. As the pores form, the biotin-avidin bonds are laterally compressed. As the density of bonds increases, the width of the pores decreases linearly and the rate of new pore formation decreases exponentially. Finally, when the biotin-avidin bonds are compressed into a solid-like state, the process arrests leaving a complex finger pattern in the membrane. We show that these findings are consistent with a thermodynamic description of tension induced pore formation.

Presenters

  • Orrin Abraham Brun Shindell

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Trinity University, Trinity University

Authors

  • Orrin Abraham Brun Shindell

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Trinity University, Trinity University

  • Natalie Mica

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews

  • K Kelvin Cheng

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Trinity University

  • Exing Wang

    Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

  • Vernita Gordon

    Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin