Budding of crystalline domains in fluid membranes

Crystalline domains embedded in fluid membrane vesicles are studied by Monte Carlo simulations of dynamically triangulated surfaces and by scaling arguments. A budding transition from a caplike state to a budded shape is observed for increasing spontaneous curvature $C_0$ of the crystalline domain as well as increasing line tension λ. The location of the budding transition is determined as a function of $C_0,$ λ, and the radius $R_A$ of the crystalline domain. In contrast to previous theoretical predictions, it is found that budding occurs at a value of the spontaneous curvature $C_0,$ that is always a decreasing function of the domain size $R_A.$ Several characteristic scaling regimes are predicted. The distribution of five- and sevenfold disclinations as the budding transition is approached is determined, and the dynamics of the generation of defects is studied.