Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Chemically induced phospholipid translocation a...

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Chemically induced phospholipid translocation across biological membranes

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Close
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2/09/2008
<mark>Journal</mark>Langmuir
Issue number17
Volume24
Number of pages5
Pages (from-to)9656-9660
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Chemical means of manipulating the distribution of lipids across biological membranes is of considerable interest for many biomedical applications as a characteristic lipid distribution is vital for numerous cellular functions. Here we employ atomic-scale molecular simulations to shed light on the ability of certain amphiphilic compounds to promote lipid translocation (flip-flops) across membranes. We show that chemically induced lipid flip-flops are most likely pore-mediated: the actual flip-flop event is a very fast process (time scales of tens of nanoseconds) once a transient water defect has been induced by the amphiphilic chemical (dimethylsulfoxide in this instance). Our findings are consistent with available experimental observations and further emphasize the importance of transient membrane defects for chemical control of lipid distribution across cell membranes.