Curvature Matters: Modeling Calcium Binding to Neutral and Anionic Phospholipid Bilayers
Semen Yesylevskyy1,2,3, Hector Martinez-Seara1, Pavel Jungwirth1
1Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo náměstí 542/2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|May 16, 2023
Summary
Calcium ions (Ca2+) preferentially bind to concave surfaces of phospholipid bilayers, with binding influenced by membrane curvature. These findings impact understanding of ion-lipid interactions in biological membranes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Computational Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Membrane curvature is a critical factor in biological processes.
- Calcium ions play vital roles in cellular functions involving lipid membranes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of membrane curvature on calcium ion binding to phospholipid bilayers.
- To compare calcium binding to flat, buckled, and uniformly bent bilayers.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- Zwitterionic and anionic phospholipid bilayers were simulated.
- Force fields with full or scaled charges were compared.
Main Results:
- Calcium ions showed preferential binding to concave membrane surfaces.
- Membrane curvature induced significant changes in ion concentration, lipid coordination, and binding patterns.
- Effects varied between concave and convex monolayers.
- Charge scaling in force fields reduced calcium binding to curved anionic bilayers.
Conclusions:
- Membrane curvature significantly modulates calcium ion binding to phospholipid bilayers.
- Preferential binding to concave surfaces and distinct effects on different lipid types were observed.
- Force field choice impacts the simulation accuracy of calcium-lipid interactions, particularly for charged lipids.
More Related Videos
08:15Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients
Published on: July 16, 2018
8.0K
07:31Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
Published on: September 1, 2023
2.3K
Related Concept Videos
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
5.2K
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
5.2K
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
7.3K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
7.3K
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
3.2K
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
3.2K
01:19Fluid Mosaic Model
12.0K
Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich...
12.0K
01:34The Fluid Mosaic Model
149.3K
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
149.3K
01:42Phosphoinositides and PIPs
8.6K
Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
8.6K