Complexation of phosphatidylcholine lipids with cholesterol.
It is postulated that the specific interactions between cholesterol and lipids in biological membranes are crucial in the formation of complexes leading subsequently to membrane domains (so-called rafts). These interactions are studied in molecular dynamics simulations performed on a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)-cholesterol bilayer mixture and a dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC)-cholesterol bilayer mixture, both having a cholesterol concentration of 40 mol %. Complexation of the simulated phospholipids with cholesterol is observed and visualized, exhibiting 2:1 and 1:1 stoichiometries. The most popular complex is found to be 1:1 in the case of DLPC, whereas the DPPC system carries a larger population of 2:1 complexes. This difference in the observed populations of complexes is shown to be a result of differences in packing geometry and phospholipid conformation due to the differing tail length of the two phosphatidylcholine lipids. Furthermore, aggregation of these complexes appears to form hydrogen-bonded networks in the system containing a mixture of cholesterol and DPPC. The CH...O hydrogen bond plays a crucial role in the formation of these complexes as well as the hydrogen bonded aggregates. The aggregation and extension of such a network implies a possible means by which phospholipid:cholesterol domains form.
Department of Chemistry, Program in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. pandit@iit.edu
Sagar A
SA
Pandit
David
D
Bostick
Max L
ML
Berkowitz
D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D014867:Water; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; C002448:1,2-linoleoylphosphatidylcholine; D002784:Cholesterol