Figure 7. Proposed model for the tension dependence in partial release mode.

The blue lipids symbolize a membrane at low tension while the red lipid bilayers symbolize a membrane under tension stress. (a). The inflation of the daughter vesicle creates tension in the vesicle membrane, inducing lipid flow from the mother to the daughter vesicle. (b). At some critical size the tension between the daughter and mother vesicles equalize, stopping flow. (c). The daughter vesicle inflation continues, which requires the mother vesicle to reduce surface area to accommodate the growing daughter vesicle (d). The pore formed reduces the pressure in the daughter vesicle stopping it from growing which causes a reverse in lipid flow. (e). The surface area is minimized as the toroid collapses to a lipid nanotube (f). The closing of the pore initiates the daughter vesicle inflation and the lipid flow starts again.