Binding of Curvature-Inducing Proteins onto Biomembranes

Abstract: We review the theoretical analyses and simulations of the interactions between curvature-inducing proteins and biomembranes. Laterally isotropic proteins induce spherical budding, whereas anisotropic proteins, such as Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) superfamily proteins, induce tabulation. Both types of proteins can sense the membrane curvature. We describe the theoretical analyses of various transitions of protein binding accompanied by a change in various properties, such as the number of buds, the radius of membrane tubes, and the nematic order of anisotropic proteins. Moreover, we explain the membrane-mediated interactions and protein assembly. Many types of membrane shape transformations (spontaneous tubulation, formation of polyhedral vesicles, polygonal tubes, periodic bumps, and network structures, etc.) have been demonstrated by coarse-grained simulations. Furthermore, traveling waves and Turing patterns under the coupling of reaction-diffusion dynamics and membrane deformation are described.