Cellular wrapping of elastic particles by a supported lipid membrane

TL;DR

This study investigates how the elasticity of particles and the presence of a cytoskeleton-like substrate influence cellular membrane wrapping, revealing effects on protrusion formation and potential implications for phagocytosis.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation model that considers the cytoskeleton's role in membrane wrapping of elastic particles, highlighting the dependence on particle stiffness and adhesion.

Findings

Membrane protrusions increase with target stiffness.

Particle flexibility's effect depends on adhesion strength.

Implications for selective phagocytosis of aged cells.

Abstract

Constancy of life vitally depends on the internalization of particles through biomembranes. Of particular interest, cellular uptake, including phagocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis, and membrane fusion, critically depends on the elasticity of particles. Cellular membranes are strongly linked to a supporting cytoskeleton. However, in most previous studies, the effect of this cortical network somehow is overlooked. In this paper, we study the cellular wrapping of a membrane around a 2D elastic particle in the presence of a substrate mimicking cytoskeleton. Our simulations show that the impact of particle flexibility on the wrapping process depends on the magnitude of the membrane particle adhesion. In contrast, the extent of membrane protrusions formed around the target always increases with target stiffness. Since the extension of membrane protrusions is an essential step in the phagocytosis process, this result may indicate a selective behavior of macrophages in the phagocytosis of aged red blood cells.