Statistical physics of molecular sorting on cell membranes

Elisa Floris (Graz): To maintain their internal organization and ensure proper physiological function-ing, eukaryotic cells employ a sophisticated mechanism known as molecular sort-ing. To elucidate the basic principles underlying such a phenomena, I will intro-duce an abstract model based on: (i) the phase separation of specific molecules into spatially localized domains on the cell membrane, and (ii) domain induced membrane bending, leading to vesicle nucleation. This model allows us to better understand the molecular sorting as a property that emerges from the collective properties of the myriad of molecules participating in cell processes.