On Gaussian curvature and membrane fission

Abstract

We propose a three-dimensional mathematical model to describe dynamical processes of membrane fssion. The model is based on a phase feld equation that includes the Gaussian curvature contribution to the bending energy. With the addition of the Gaussian curvature energy term numerical simulations agree with the predictions that tubular shapes can break down into multiple vesicles. A dispersion relation obtained with linear analysis predicts the wavelength of the instability and the number of formed vesicl