Shape mismatch in self assembly leads to fiber-like aggregates

ORAL

Abstract

Aggregating proteins tend to form fibers, often for the worse - think of Alzheimer's disease. Could this propensity to form fibers be a generic physical property of irregular aggregating objects, rather than something specific to protein chemistry? We investigate the aggregation of simple ill-fitting, deformable objects and find that geometrical frustration can lead to self-assembly into slender aggregates.

*ML acknowledges support from Université Paris-Sud and CNRS, the University of Chicago FACCTS program, Marie Curie Integration Grant PCIG12-GA-2012-334053 and “Investissements d'Avenir” LabEx PALM (ANR-10-LABX-0039-PALM).

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Authors

  • Martin Lenz

    • LPTMS, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
    • CNRS - Orsay

  • Efraim Efrati

    • Weizmann Institute of Science

  • Thomas A. Witten

    • University of Chicago