title: Receptor aggregation by intermembrane interactions: a Monte Carlo study.
abstract: The lateral organization of receptors on cell surfaces is critically important to their function; many receptors transmit transmembrane signals when redistributed into clusters, while the response of others is potentiated by their aggregation. Cell-cell contact can play a crucial role in receptor aggregation, even when the bonds between receptors on one cell and ligands on the other are monovalent. Monte Carlo simulations on a two-membrane model were carried out to determine whether weak enthalpic interactions among receptors in one membrane, and among ligands in another, can work synergistically to give large-scale clustering when the two membranes are brought into contact. The simulations give support to such a clustering mechanism. In addition, because clustering is a cooperative process akin to a phase separation, individual receptors and ligands may undergo repeated binding and unbinding while in a clustered "phase," and a single ligand could interact with multiple different receptor partners. The results suggest a resolution of the dichotomy between serial triggering and aggregation models of T cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: G Matthew
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fricke
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D008024:Ligands; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011940:Receptor Aggregation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface