Eur. Phys. J. E 8, 477-484 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2001-10111-x

Elastic interaction of point defects on biological membranes

V.I. Marchenko and C. Misbah

Groupe de Recherche sur les phénomènes hors équilibre, Laboratoire de spectrometrie physique, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble I, BP 87, F-38402 Saint Martin d'Hères cedex, France

chaouqi.misbah@ujf-grenoble.fr

(Received 2 October 2001 and Received in final form 11 July 2002 Online publication 8 October 2002)

Abstract
The interaction between inclusions mediated by biological membranes undulations is analyzed. The interaction law is interpreted in terms of symmetries associated with inclusions. We show, in particular, that for a C₃ and C_3v symmetries the interaction law falls as 1/r³. We show that for completely isotropic inclusions, the dominant interaction vanishes to all orders, and the first contribution stems from the induced interaction which behaves as 1/r⁴. The same law holds for any other symmetry which is higher than C₄. We introduce a straightforward method to compute these interactions. We point out important differences with results in the literature and explain the discrepancies.

PACS
87.16.Dg - Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002