Coiling of cylindrical membrane stacks with anchored polymers

We study experimentally a coiling instability of cylindrical multilamellar stacks of phospholipid membranes, induced by polymers with hydrophobic anch ors grafted along their hydrophilic backbone. We interpret our experimental results in terms of a model in which local membrane curvature and polymer concentration are coupled. The model predicts the occurrence of maximally t ight coils above a threshold polymer concentration. Indeed, only maximally tight coils are observed experimentally. Our system is unique in that coils form in the absence of twist and adhesion.