title: Exploring the effect of xenon on biomembranes.
abstract: We report the initial findings of 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations of the role of cellular membranes in general anaesthesia. The effect of xenon on hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers is described. The xenon atoms were found to prefer the interfacial and central regions of the bilayer. The presence of xenon was observed to lead to a small increase in the surface area, membrane thickness, and order of the acyl chains.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics and Statistical Mechanics Group, Laboratory of Computational Engineering, P.O.B. 9203, 02015 Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. lorna@lce.hut.fi
authors.forename: Lorna M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stimson
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vattulainen
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Róg
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karttunen
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D014978:Xenon / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014978:Xenon