Coagulation model for ion channels in the lipid membranes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 2D coagulation model for ion channel domain growth in lipid membranes, explaining experimental observations of domain size evolution over time.

Contribution

It presents a novel 2D coagulation model that captures the growth and saturation of ion channel domains in lipid membranes.

Findings

Domain radius scales with time as t^0.4

Model qualitatively matches experimental saturation behavior

Provides insights into ion channel coagulation dynamics

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2D) model is developed to describe the growth of spotty patterns (domains) in the lipid membranes which result from the coagulation of ion channels. It is assumed that the ion channels can coagulate when activated, e.g. the neurotransmitter may act as the surface-active substance for some ion channels in the lipid matrix or the activation may result in increase of polarity of the ion channels that give rise to their coagulation process due to the Brownian diffusive motion. The results show that the domain radius rD of the ion channels scales with time as rD~time^0.4.The slowing and subsequent saturation of the domain radius at longer time periods are in qualitative agreement with experiments.