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Membrane free-energy landscapes derived from atomistic dynamics explain nonuniversal cholesterol-induced stiffening.

Giacomo FiorinLucy R ForrestJosé D Faraldo-Gómez
Published in: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (2023)
Elucidating the energetics and mechanisms of membrane remodeling is an essential step towards understanding cell physiology. This problem is challenging, however, because membrane bending involves both large-scale and atomic-level dynamics, which are difficult to measure simultaneously. A recent controversy regarding the stiffening effect of cholesterol, which is ubiquitous in animal cells, illustrates this challenge. We show how enhanced molecular-dynamics simulations can bridge this length-scale gap and reconcile seemingly incongruent observations. This approach facilitates a conceptual connection between lipid chemistry and membrane mechanics, thereby providing a solid basis for future research on remodeling phenomena, such as in membrane trafficking or viral infection.
Keyphrases
  • molecular dynamics simulations
  • single cell
  • stem cells
  • low density lipoprotein
  • current status