Membrane-Mediated Interactions Between Protein Inclusions

Integral or peripheral membrane proteins, or protein oligomers often get close to each other on cell membranes and carry out biological tasks in a collective manner. In addition to electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, those proteins also experience membrane-mediated interactions, which may be necessary for their functionality. The membrane-mediated interactions originate from perturbation of lipid membranes by the presence of protein inclusions, and have been the subject of intensive research in membrane biophysics. Here we review both theoretical and numerical studies of such interactions for membrane proteins and for nanoparticles bound to lipid membranes.

Automated summary

Integral or peripheral membrane proteins, or protein oligomers often interact closely on cell membranes and perform biological tasks collectively. In addition to electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, these proteins also experience membrane-mediated interactions, which are crucial for their functionality and originate from perturbation of lipid membranes by protein inclusions. This type of interaction has been the subject of intensive research in membrane biophysics, with both theoretical and numerical studies conducted for membrane proteins and nanoparticles bound to lipid membranes.