Atomistic Study of Lipid Membranes Containing Chloroform: Looking for a Lipid-Mediated Mechanism of Anesthesia
نویسنده
چکیده
The molecular mechanism of general anesthesia is still a controversial issue. Direct effect by linking of anesthetics to proteins and indirect action on the lipid membrane properties are the two hypotheses in conflict. Atomistic simulations of different lipid membranes subjected to the effect of small volatile organohalogen compounds are used to explore plausible lipid-mediated mechanisms. Simulations of homogeneous membranes reveal that electrostatic potential and lateral pressure transversal profiles are affected differently by chloroform (anesthetic) and carbon tetrachloride (non-anesthetic). Simulations of structured membranes that combine ordered and disordered regions show that chloroform molecules accumulate preferentially in highly disordered lipid domains, suggesting that the combination of both lateral and transversal partitioning of chloroform in the cell membrane could be responsible of its anesthetic action.
منابع مشابه
Atomistic Monte Carlo Simulation of Lipid Membranes
Biological membranes are complex assemblies of many different molecules of which analysis demands a variety of experimental and computational approaches. In this article, we explain challenges and advantages of atomistic Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of lipid membranes. We provide an introduction into the various move sets that are implemented in current MC methods for efficient conformational sa...
متن کاملMolecular mechanism for lipid flip-flops.
Transmembrane lipid translocation (flip-flop) processes are involved in a variety of properties and functions of cell membranes, such as membrane asymmetry and programmed cell death. Yet, flip-flops are one of the least understood dynamical processes in membranes. In this work, we elucidate the molecular mechanism of pore-mediated transmembrane lipid translocation (flip-flop) acquired from exte...
متن کاملThe Ultrastructure of Lipid-depleted Rod Photoreceptor Membranes
The structure of lipid-depleted retinal rod photoreceptor membranes was studied by means of electron microscopy. Aldehyde-fixed retinas were exhaustively extracted with acetone, chloroform-methanol, and acidified chloroform-methanol. The effect of prefixation on the extractability of lipids was evaluated by means of thin-layer chromatography and fatty acid analysis. Prefixation with glutaraldeh...
متن کاملAn evidence for a potassium channel in endoplasmic reticulum based on single channel recording in bilayer lipid membrane
Introduction Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of potassium selective channels in membranes internal organelles. These channels are essential to a large variety of cellular processes including intracellular 2+ a signaling, protein recycling, charge neutralization and cell protection. In contrast to the sarcoplasmic reticulum + here potassium channels have been clearly ...
متن کاملComputational and theoretical approaches for studies of a lipid recognition protein on biological membranes
Many cellular functions, including cell signaling and related events, are regulated by the association of peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs) with biological membranes containing anionic lipids, e.g., phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP). This association is often mediated by lipid recognition modules present in many PMPs. Here, I summarize computational and theoretical approaches to investigat...
متن کامل