Long-range interactions between membrane inclusions: Electric field induced giant amplification of the pairwise potential

The aim of this work is to revisit the phenomenological theory of the interaction between membrane inclusions, mediated by the membrane fluctuations. We consider the case where the inclu-sions are separated by distances larger than their characteristic size. Within our macroscopic approach a physical nature of such inclusions is not essential. However, we have always in mind two prototypes of such inclusions: proteins and RNA macromolecules. Because the interaction is driven by the membrane fluctuations and the coupling between inclusions and the membrane, it is possible to change the interaction potential by external actions affecting these factors. As an example of such external action we consider an electric field. Under external electric field (both dc or ac), we propose a new coupling mechanism between inclusions possessing dipole moments (as it is the case for most protein macromolecules) and the membrane. We found, quite unexpected and presumably for the first time, that the new coupling mechanism yields to giant enhancement of the pairwise potential of the inclusions. This result opens up a way to handle purposefully the interaction energy, and as well to test of the theory set forth in our article. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.