Vesicles with Tubular Protrusions in Symmetrical and non Symmetrical Conditions

ABSTRACTExperimental study of the behaviour of the shape of vesicles with long tubular protrusions (tethers), connected to them in non-symmetrical isoosmolar and non isoosmolar environment was performed. It is shown that in case of adding a solution with different osmolarity to the outer side of the vesicle with tether, it changes its shape to a vesicle with chain structure of small spherical formations called beads. This shape transformation is reversible in time. After around 40 minutes equilibrium is achieved and the object of interest acquires its initial form. The bending elastic modulus of the lipid membrane, containing tethers is measured using the method of thermally induced shape fluctuations.