Effective line tension and contact angles between membrane domains in biphasic vesicles.

Inhomogeneities in membranes give rise to localized interactions at the interface between domains in two-component vesicles. The corresponding energy is expressed as a line tension between the two phases. In this paper we study the implications of the thickness mismatch between domains which has been experimentally reported to be of order 20-30% and the conditions under which the induced line tension can destabilize the domains in inhomogeneous vesicles.

Conical defects in growing sheets.

A growing or shrinking disc will adopt a conical shape, its intrinsic geometry characterized by a surplus angle phi(e) at the apex. If growth is slow, the cone will find its equilibrium. Whereas this is trivial if phi(e)0.

Mapping mouse gamete interaction forces reveal several oocyte membrane regions with different mechanical and adhesive properties.

This study focuses on the interaction involved in the adhesion of mouse gametes and on the mechanical properties of the oocyte membrane. The oocyte has an asymmetrical shape, and its membrane is composed of two distinct areas. One is rich in microvilli, and the other is smoother and without microvilli.

Specific and non specific interactions involving Le( X ) determinant quantified by lipid vesicle micromanipulation.

Carbohydrate-carbohydrate recognition is emerging today as an important type of interaction in cell adhesion. One Ca(2+)mediated homotypic interaction between two Lewis( X ) determinants (Le( X )) has been proposed to drive cell adhesion in murine embryogenesis. Here, the adhesion energies of lipid vesicles functionalized with glycolipids bearing monomeric or dimeric Le( X ) determinants were measured in NaCl or CaCl(2) media with the micropipette aspiration technique.

Ultraweak sugar-sugar interactions for transient cell adhesion.

Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions are rarely considered in biologically relevant situations such as cell recognition and adhesion. One Ca(2+)-mediated homotypic interaction between two Lewis(x) determinants (Le(x)) has been proposed to drive cell adhesion in murine embryogenesis. Here, we confirm the existence of this specific interaction by reporting the first direct quantitative measurements in an environment akin to that provided by membranes.