Mechanics of a Lipid Membrane Coupled to a Transmembrane Protein: A Theoretical and Numerical Study

The cell membrane is not merely a passive envelope enclosing the cell; rather, it plays an active and dynamic role in many biological processes, significantly contributing to the cell’s behavior and its interactions with the external environment. This active role often emerges through interactions with membrane proteins, which act as mediators or regulators of mechanical and chemical responses. These interactions can lead to complex morphological changes and collective behaviors, revealing key mechanisms of cellular function. Given these considerations, this work investigates the coupling between a lipid membrane and a transmembrane protein through a combination of analytical modeling and finite element simulations based on a visco-elastic continuum mechanics model. Particular attention is given to non-linear behavior. The study reveals transitions between different shape regimes depending on the protein displacement and contact angle. These results provide insights into how local protein activity can trigger morphological changes in membranes, a mechanism potentially relevant in membrane differentiation, cellular transport and signaling processes.