Dynamics of Self-assembly of Model Viral Capsids in the Presence of a Fluctuating Membrane

Author(s)
Richard Matthews, Christos N. Likos
Abstract

A coarse-grained computational model is used to investigate the effect of a fluctuating fluid membrane on the dynamics of patchy-particle assembly into virus capsid-like cores. Results from simulations for a broad range of parameters are presented, showing the effect of varying interaction strength, membrane stiffness, and membrane viscosity. Furthermore, the effect of hydrodynamic interactions is investigated. Attraction to a membrane may promote assembly, including for subunit interaction strengths for which it does not occur in the bulk, and may also decrease single-core assembly time. The membrane budding rate is strongly increased by hydrodynamic interactions. The membrane deformation rate is important in determining the finite-time yield. Higher rates may decrease the entropic penalty for assembly and help guide subunits toward each other but may also block partial cores from being completed. For increasing subunit interaction strength, three regimes with different effects of the membrane are identified.

Organisation(s)
Computational and Soft Matter Physics
Journal
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part B: Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces & Biophysical
Volume
117
Pages
8283-8292
No. of pages
10
ISSN
1520-6106
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/jp4037099
Publication date
07-2013
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103036 Theoretical physics, 102009 Computer simulation, 106006 Biophysics, 103029 Statistical physics
Keywords
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/395c3fec-e0ec-4f7c-a878-8ee42d525be9