Abstract
We report the self-assembly of thin actin shells beneath the membranes of giant vesicles. Ion-carrier mediated influx of Mg2+ induces actin polymerization in the initially spherical vesicles. Buckling of the vesicles and the formation of blisters after thermally induced bilayer expansion is demonstrated. Bilayer flickering is dominated by tension generated by its coupling to the actin cortex. Quantitative flicker analysis suggests the bilayer and the actin cortex are separated by 0.4 μm to 0.5 μm due to undulation forces.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1786-1789 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 23 Feb 1998 |