Interconnected positive and negative feedback loops regulate the establishment and maintenance of micron length-scale asymmetries in PIP lipids at the leading edge membrane of polarized cells. Recently, we reconstituted a two-component kinase-phosphatase competitive reaction that drives the interconversion between PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P2 lipid on supported membranes. This reaction exhibits kinetic bistability and symmetry breaking behavior, which results in the emergence of PIP lipid composition patterns.

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