Effect of tip-link protein on membrane bending rigidity

Abstract

We used minimalistic membrane compartment systems namely Giant Unilamellar Vesi- cles (GUVs) for the study and we used a semi-experimental technique called vesicle fluc- tuation analysis(VFA) to get values of membrane bending rigidity an important elasto- mechanical parameter. We have found that attachment of full length proteinCdh23 EC(1- 27) to the membrane increases the bending rigidity by 10 k B T whereas shorter Cdh23 EC(1- 2) don’t have any effect on membrane bending rigidity. The increase in bending rigidity is also observed when cholesterol is incorporated in the membrane. Furthermore we have also observed that cdh23 indeed works as cell adhesion molecule.