Properties of cell membranes relevant to anaesthesiology.
Recent advances in the study of cell membrane structure and function confirm the Singer-Nicolson model of a lipid bilayer in which membrane proteins are embedded. Mobility of these proteins is essential for biological activity. The Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle is a typical example of a transmembrane integral protein. Within this protein various domains can be identified on the basis of their functional activities. A hydrophobic pocket within the APTase polypeptide appears to be a possible site of interaction with halothane molecules. These findings may explain the well-known correlation between anaesthetic potency and lipid solubility with specific inhibition of functions known to be mediated by membrane proteins.
D000758:Anesthesia; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D000777:Anesthetics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases