Confined semiflexible polymers suppress fluctuations of soft membrane tubes

• DOI: 10.1039/c5sm02556g
• Publication Date: 2015-12-18T11:48:55Z
• Authors: Sina Mirzaeifard; Steven M. Abel
• Keywords: Flexural rigidity; Rigidity (electromagnetism); Thermal fluctuations; Persistence length; Membrane structure

We use Monte Carlo computer simulations to investigate tubular membrane structures with and without semiflexible polymers confined inside. At small values of bending rigidity, empty fluid non-fluid tubes exhibit markedly different behavior, membranes adopting irregular, highly fluctuating shapes maintaining extended tube-like structures. Fluid membranes, unlike a local maximum in specific heat as their rigidity increases. The peak is coincident transition further find that confining polymer within tube reduces the membrane, which consequence suppressed shape fluctuations. Polymers sufficiently large persistence length can significantly deform tube, long leading localized bulges accommodate regions forms loops. Analytical calculations energies idealized polymer-membrane configurations provide additional insight into formation polymer-induced deformations.