Mechanisms of virus budding through membranes

We investigate the dynamics of membrane budding from both a flat membrane and a vesicle, focusing on key factors that influence this process. By comparing budding in these two settings, we analyze energy changes using analytical and numerical methods. Our study examines the effects of surface tension, bending modulus, and spontaneous curvature on the budding process. Simulations reveal that budding from a flat membrane stall due to high stretching energy and energy barriers at the neck while budding from a vesicle proceeds successfully under the same conditions. This analysis enhances our understanding of how these physical properties affect budding efficiency, with implications for membrane-related phenomena such as viral budding and vesicle formation.