Mechanics of the Formation, Interaction and Evolution of Membrane Tubular Structures

Membrane nanotubes, also known as membrane tethers, play important functional roles in many cellular processes, such as trafficking and signaling. Although considerable progresses have been made in understanding the physics regulating the mechanical behaviors of individual membrane nanotubes, relatively little is known about the formation of multiple membrane nanotubes due to the rapid occurring process involving strong cooperative effects and complex configurational transitions. By exerting a pair of external extraction upon two separate membrane regions, here we combine molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical analysis to investigate how the membrane nanotube formation and pulling behaviors are regulated by the separation between the pulling forces and how the membrane protrusions interact with each other.

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