Aggregation behavior of two separate polymers confined between two membranes

Abstract

An off-lattice Monte Carlo method is used to study the aggregation behavior of two separate confined polymer chains induced by membranes. A separation-to-combination transition occurs when the two separate chains are induced to combine and become a sphere by membranes for large surface tension σ at the critical distance d_c. However, they still remain separate and each chain adopts a globular conformation for small surface tension σ at d_c. For d < d_c, the two separate chains always mix and become a sphere under compression of membranes for all σ, while for d > d_c, they keep separate and each chain becomes a sphere under compression of membranes for all σ. Formation of a membrane tunnel between two separate chains and entropy lead to the aggregation of separate polymer chains. In addition, d_c and chain length N satisfy the relation: d_c ∼ N^0.46. This investigate can provide insights into the chromosome segregation/aggregation between two biological membranes, or single polymer manipulation through a membrane.