Membrane and Cell BiologyMembrane and Cell BiologyБиологические мембраны0233-47553034-5219The Russian Academy of Sciences68087010.31857/S0233475525020037UFSSJRArticlesСТАТЬИResearch ArticleInfluence of Membrane Curvature on the Energy Barrier of Pore FormationВлияние кривизны мембраны на энергетический барьер порообразованияMolotkovskyR. J.МолотковскийР. Ю.
Russian Federation
rodion.molotkovskiy@gmail.comBashkirovP. V.БашкировП. В.
Russian Federation
rodion.molotkovskiy@gmail.comInstitute of Systems Biology and Medicine of RospotrebnadzorИнститут системной биологии и медицины Роспотребнадзора1905202542211712928052025Copyright ©; 2025, The Russian Academy of SciencesCopyright ©; 2025, Российская академия наук2025The Russian Academy of SciencesРоссийская академия наукhttps://journals.eco-vector.com/0233-4755/article/view/680870

Formation of through conducting defects — pores — in the lipid bilayer affects many processes in living cells and can lead to strong changes in cellular metabolism. Pore formation is a complex topological rearrangement and occurs in several stages: first, a hydrophobic through pore is formed, then it is reconstructed into a hydrophilic pore with a curved edge, the expansion of which leads to membrane rupture. Pore formation does not occur spontaneously, since it requires significant energy costs associated with membrane deformation. The evolution of the system is associated with overcoming one or two energy barriers, the ratio of their heights affects the stability of the pore and the probability of its formation. We study the effect of membrane curvature on the height of the energy barrier for the transition of a pore to a metastable hydrophilic state. We apply the theory of elasticity of lipid membranes and generalize the model of pore formation in flat membranes to the case of arbitrary curvature. We show that the barrier for pore formation decreases by 8 kBT when the radius of curvature decreases from 1000 to 10 nm, which facilitates the formation of a metastable pore. Our results are consistent with experimental data and can be used to model complex processes occurring in curved regions of living cell membranes.

Образование сквозных проводящих дефектов – пор в липидном бислое – влияет на множество процессов в живых клетках и может приводить к сильнейшим изменениям в клеточном метаболизме. Порообразование представляет собой сложную топологическую перестройку и происходит в несколько этапов: сначала образуется гидрофобная сквозная пора, затем она перестраивается в гидрофильную пору с искривленной кромкой, расширение которой приводит к разрыву мембраны. Формирование поры не происходит спонтанно, так как требует значительных затрат энергии, связанных с деформацией мембраны. Эволюция системы связана с преодолением одного или двух энергетических барьеров, соотношение высот которых влияет на стабильность поры и вероятность ее образования. Мы исследуем влияние кривизны мембраны на высоту энергетического барьера перехода поры в метастабильное гидрофильное состояние. Мы применяем теорию упругости липидных мембран и обобщаем модель порообразования в плоских мембранах на случай произвольной кривизны. Мы показываем, что барьер на порообразование уменьшается на 8 kBT при уменьшении радиуса кривизны с 1000 до 10 нм, что облегчает формирование метастабильной поры. Полученные нами результаты согласуются с экспериментальными данными и могут применяться при моделировании сложных процессов, происходящих в искривленных участках мембран живых клеток.

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