Computer Simulation of Cytoskeleton-Induced Blebbing in Lipid Membranes

TL;DR

This paper uses computer simulations to explore how cytoskeleton interactions induce bleb formation in lipid membranes, revealing conditions that promote blebbing and aligning with experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a particle-based simulation model that links membrane-cytoskeleton interactions to bleb formation, providing new insights into the mechanics of blebbing.

Findings

Blebs form when the bilayer-to-cytoskeleton area ratio is large.

Localized ablation or compression of the cytoskeleton induces blebbing.

Simulation results qualitatively match experimental evidence.

Abstract

Blebs are balloon-shaped membrane protrusions that form during many physiological processes. Using computer simulation of a particle-based model for self-assembled lipid bilayers coupled to an elastic meshwork, we investigated the phase behavior and kinetics of blebbing. We found that blebs form for large values of the ratio between the areas of the bilayer and the cytoskeleton. We also found that blebbing can be induced when the cytoskeleton is subject to a localized ablation or a uniform compression. The results obtained are qualitatively in agreement with the experimental evidence and the model opens up the possibility to study the kinetics of bleb formation in detail.