A model for surface diffusion of trans-membrane proteins on lipid bilayers

International audienceThe equilibrium theory of lipid membranes is modified to include the effects of a continuous distribution of trans-membrane proteins. These influence membrane shape and evolve in accordance with a diffusive balance law. The model is purely mechanical in the absence of the proteins. Conditions ensuring energy dissipation in the presence of diffusion are given and an example constitutive function is used to simulate the coupled inertia-less interplay between membrane shape and protein distribution. The work extends an earlier continuum theory of equilibrium configurations of composite lipid-protein membranes to accommodate surface diffusion