Phase-separating elastic system of mixed lipid bilayers

A phase-separating elastic system is studied to investigate the morphological dynamics in mixed lipid bilayers. The system can realize two kinds of interactions, elastic and trans-bilayer coupling. In the numerical simulations, even in simple situations with homogeneous and isotropic moduli, some characteristic intramembrane subdomain structures can be observed. The elastic interaction produces fine, distinctive morphology in the lipid membrane and the trans-bilayer coupling interaction regulates the symmetry of the two leaflets of the bilayer. On the basis of the numerical observation, some special states are formulated to simplify the system and to focus on the elastic interaction. Several mathematical properties of the resulting steady states are presented. In particular, it is proved that the elastic interaction stabilizes intramembrane subdomain structures by secondary bifurcations of the steady states.

► A phase-separating elastic system of mixed lipid bilayers is presented. ► Elastic and trans-bilayer coupling interactions are examined. ► A monolayer provides an infrastructure for domain formation in the opposing monolayer. ► Elastic interactions stabilize microdomain structures by secondary bifurcations.