Theory 31/Membrane Biophysics
Pores Open on a Tension Ratio
The claim
Membrane pore formation occurs when the applied tension exceeds the ratio of line tension to pore radius, so the same tension is safe on one membrane and lytic on another.
01The mechanism
Opening a pore costs edge energy and saves areal energy; the balance depends on the ratio, which is why lipid composition changes the threshold.
02Predictions
- P1Lysis should track the ratio.
- P2Tension alone should mispredict across compositions.
03Refutation
Lysis tracking tension would remove the line-tension term.