Alteration of interleaflet coupling due to compounds displaying rapid translocation in lipid membranes.
The spatial coincidence of lipid domains at both layers of the cell membrane is expected to play an important role in many cellular functions. Competition between the surface interleaflet tension and a line hydrophobic mismatch penalty are conjectured to determine the transversal behavior of laterally heterogeneous lipid membranes. Here, by a combination of molecular dynamics simulations, a continuum field theory and kinetic equations, I demonstrate that the presence of small, rapidly translocating molecules residing in the lipid bilayer may alter its transversal behavior by favoring the spatial coincidence of similar lipid phases.
Department de Química Física and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, c/ Martí i Franqués 1, Pta 4, 08028 Barcelona Spain.
Ramon
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Reigada
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D013500:Surface Tension
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol