Curvature-driven membrane lipid and protein distribution

•Protein-induced membrane curvature leads to curvature sensing and membrane bending.•Lipid sorting driven by membrane curvature requires lipid–lipid interactions.•Curvature-induced sorting results from a balance of enthalpy and entropy changes.

Cellular transport requires that membranes have the ability to recruit specific lipids and proteins to particular positions and at specific times. Here, we review recent work showing that lipids and proteins can be redistributed by spatially varying membrane curvature, without necessarily the need for biochemical targeting signals. We present here an emerging understanding of the various mechanisms by which membrane curvature can sort lipids and proteins, providing the experimental methods in addition to the supporting theoretical concepts.