title: Lateral diffusion in lipid membranes through collective flows.
abstract: There is no comprehensive model for the dynamics of cellular membranes. Even mechanisms of basic dynamic processes, such as lateral diffusion of lipids, are poorly understood. Our atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations support a novel, concerted mechanism for lipid diffusion. We find that a lipid and its nearest neighbors move in unison, forming loosely defined clusters. What is more, the motions of lipids are correlated over tens of nanometers: the lateral displacements of lipids in a given monolayer produce striking two-dimensional flow patterns. These flow patterns should have wide implications, affecting, for example, the formation of membrane domains, protein functionality, and action of lipases and drugs on membranes.
authors: Laboratory of Physics and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland.
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Falck
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Róg
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Karttunen
authors: Ilpo
authors: I
authors: Vattulainen
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes