Ca2+ Gradient Induces Membrane Bending and Formation of Nanotubes in Giant Lipid Vesicles

Journal article, 2016

Reshaping and bending of the cell membrane is imperative in many processes such as cell division, filopodia formation, and endocytosis. Understanding these shape transitions, will help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these essential cellular processes. In our work, we investigate an interplay between cell membrane morphology and chemical stimulation by constructing a biomimetic model system. More specifically, giant lipid vesicles were exposed to a chemical gradient of Ca2+, which was established over the membrane surface.