Selforganization of a membrane in synaptic geometry.

The self-organization of mobile membrane proteins in a synaptic structure is computed. The model of dissipative condensation is used which takes into account the intermolecular interactions due to electrical channel currents and electrophoretic charges as they occur in a leaky membrane. An instability of the homogeneous fluid mosaic of charged channels is observed in the region of the synapse. Periodic accumulations of channels appear which are modulated by the attraction of protein from the perisynaptic membrane. The sensitivity of the process with respect to the geometrical constraints and to electrochemical parameters is discussed.