Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.106, No.47, 12323-12330, 2002
Cooperative effects induced by adsorbed polypeptides in mixed membranes
Adsorbed polypeptides such as peripheral proteins disturb the homogeneity of the lipid mixture which forms membranes. The induced concentration deviations produce an enhanced adsorption of the polypeptides on the membrane surface and an attractive force between them. This substrate mediated force supports the formation of clusters or even domains with different lipid concentrations and adsorbate densities.