Molecular dynamics studies of the molecular structure and interactions of cholesterol superlattices and random domains in an unsaturated phosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane. 2007

Qing Zhu, and Kwan H Cheng, and Mark W Vaughn
Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43121, Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, USA.

The effect of the molecular organization of lipid components on the properties of the bilayer membrane has been a topic of increasing interest. Several experimental and theoretical studies have suggested that cholesterol is not randomly distributed in the fluid-state lipid bilayer but forms nanoscale domains. Several cholesterol-enriched nanodomain structures have been proposed, including rafts, regular or maze arrays, complexes, and superlattices. At present, the molecular mechanisms by which lipid composition influences the formation and stability of lipid nanodomains remain unclear. In this study, we have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the effects of the molecular organization of cholesterol--superlattice versus random--on the structure of and interactions between lipids and water in lipid bilayers of cholesterol and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (cholesterol/POPC) at a fixed cholesterol mole fraction of 0.40. On the basis of four independent replicates of 200-ns MD simulations for a superlattice or random bilayer, statistically significant differences were observed in the lipid structural parameters, area per lipid, density profile, and acyl chain order profile, as well as the hydrogen bonding between various pairs (POPC and water, cholesterol and water, and POPC and cholesterol). The time evolution of the radial distribution of the cholesterol hydroxy oxygen suggests that the lateral distribution of cholesterol in the superlattice bilayer is more stable than that in the random bilayer. Furthermore, the results indicate that a relatively long simulation time, more than 100 ns, is required for these two-component bilayers to reach equilibrium and that this time is influenced by the initial lateral distribution of lipid components.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008051 Lipid Bilayers Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes. Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D008567 Membranes, Artificial Artificially produced membranes, such as semipermeable membranes used in artificial kidney dialysis (RENAL DIALYSIS), monomolecular and bimolecular membranes used as models to simulate biological CELL MEMBRANES. These membranes are also used in the process of GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION. Artificial Membranes,Artificial Membrane,Membrane, Artificial
D010713 Phosphatidylcholines Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety. Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D002784 Cholesterol The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils. Epicholesterol
D003903 Deuterium The stable isotope of hydrogen. It has one neutron and one proton in the nucleus. Deuterons,Hydrogen-2,Hydrogen 2
D006860 Hydrogen Bonding A low-energy attractive force between hydrogen and another element. It plays a major role in determining the properties of water, proteins, and other compounds. Hydrogen Bonds,Bond, Hydrogen,Hydrogen Bond
D015394 Molecular Structure The location of the atoms, groups or ions relative to one another in a molecule, as well as the number, type and location of covalent bonds. Structure, Molecular,Molecular Structures,Structures, Molecular
D049329 Nanostructures Materials which have structured components with at least one dimension in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. These include NANOCOMPOSITES; NANOPARTICLES; NANOTUBES; and NANOWIRES. Nanomaterials,Nanostructured Materials,Material, Nanostructured,Materials, Nanostructured,Nanomaterial,Nanostructure,Nanostructured Material

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