Binding equilibrium and kinetics of membrane-anchored receptors and ligands in cell adhesion: Insights from computational model systems and theory.
The adhesion of cell membranes is mediated by the binding of membrane-anchored receptor and ligand proteins. In this article, we review recent results from simulations and theory that lead to novel insights on how the binding equilibrium and kinetics of these proteins is affected by the membranes and by the membrane anchoring and molecular properties of the proteins. Simulations and theory both indicate that the binding equilibrium constant [Formula: see text] and the on- and off-rate constants of anchored receptors and ligands in their 2-dimensional (2D) membrane environment strongly depend on the membrane roughness from thermally excited shape fluctuations on nanoscales. Recent theory corroborated by simulations provides a general relation between [Formula: see text] and the binding constant [Formula: see text] of soluble variants of the receptors and ligands that lack the membrane anchors and are free to diffuse in 3 dimensions (3D).
a Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Department of Theory and Bio-Systems , Potsdam , Germany.
Thomas R
TR
Weikl
a Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Department of Theory and Bio-Systems , Potsdam , Germany.|b Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University , Nanjing , China.
Jinglei
J
Hu
a Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Department of Theory and Bio-Systems , Potsdam , Germany.|c International Center for Applied Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , China.
Guang-Kui
GK
Xu
a Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Department of Theory and Bio-Systems , Potsdam , Germany.
Reinhard
R
Lipowsky
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
binding constant; membrane adhesion; membrane roughness; protein binding