title: Lipid unsaturation and organelle dynamics.
abstract: The number of double bonds (=unsaturation) in the acyl chains of phospholipids (PL) influences the physical properties of cellular membranes. Here, we discuss disparate molecular processes, including vesicle budding, ion channel opening, and lipoprotein formation, which are greatly facilitated by PL polyunsaturation in membranes. Experimental and computer-based approaches for the structure and dynamics of PL suggest a common cause for these effects: the ability of the polyunsaturated acyl chain of PL to extend or bent along the membrane normal according to various constraints, thereby enabling a third dimension of motion in a structure that is essentially a 2D fluid.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 660 route des lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France. Electronic address: barelli@ipmc.cnrs.fr.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barelli
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 660 route des lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France. Electronic address: antonny@ipmc.cnrs.fr.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Antonny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants