title: Biophysical changes induced by xenon on phospholipid bilayers.
abstract: Structural and dynamic changes in cell membrane properties induced by xenon, a volatile anesthetic molecule, may affect the function of membrane-mediated proteins, providing a hypothesis for the mechanism of general anesthetic action. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulation and differential scanning calorimetry to examine the biophysical and thermodynamic effects of xenon on model lipid membranes. Our results indicate that xenon atoms preferentially localize in the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer, inducing substantial increases in the area per lipid and bilayer thickness. Xenon depresses the membrane gel-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature, increasing membrane fluidity and lipid head group spacing, while inducing net local ordering effects in a small region of the lipid carbon tails and modulating the bilayer lateral pressure profile. Our results are consistent with a role for nonspecific, lipid bilayer-mediated mechanisms in producing xenon's general anesthetic action.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors: Ryan D
authors: RD
authors: Booker
authors: Amadeu K
authors: AK
authors: Sum
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D044367:Phase Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014978:Xenon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D014978:Xenon; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine