Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Realistic Membrane Modeling Using Complex Lipid Mixtures in Simulation Studies
Published on: September 1, 2023
Matrix formalism for site-specific binding of unstructured proteins to multicomponent lipid membranes
Vladimir B Teif1, Daniel Harries, Dmitri Y Lando
1Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Belarus National Academy of Sciences, Kuprevich 5/2, Minsk 220141, Belarus. teif@fh.huji.ac.il
Abstract:
We describe a new approach to calculate the binding of flexible peptides and unfolded proteins to multicomponent lipid membranes. The method is based on the transfer matrix formalism of statistical mechanics recently described as a systematic tool to study DNA-protein-drug binding in gene regulation. Using the energies of interaction of the individual polymer segments with different membrane lipid species and the scaling corrections due to polymer looping, we calculate polymer adsorption characteristics and the degree of sequestration of specific membrane lipids. The method is applied to the effector domain of the MARCKS (myristoylated alanine rich C kinase substrate) protein known to be involved in signal transduction through membrane binding. The calculated binding constants of the MARCKS(151-175) peptide and a series of related peptides to mixed PC/PS/PIP2 membranes are in satisfactory agreement with in vitro experiments.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Fluid Mosaic Model
Lipids as Anchors
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...

