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Insertases Scramble Lipids: Molecular Simulations of MTCH2
Ladislav Bartoš1,2, Anant K Menon3, Robert Vácha1,4,2
1CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 30, 2023
Summary
MTCH2, a mitochondrial protein, functions as a scramblase, facilitating lipid transport across membranes. Its activity is comparable to VDAC, suggesting complementary roles in mitochondrial function.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Scramblases are crucial for bidirectional lipid transport, impacting membrane homeostasis and cellular signaling.
- MTCH2, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, possesses structural features similar to known scramblases.
Approach:
- Utilized coarse-grained and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate MTCH2 function.
- Analyzed the free energy barrier for lipid movement through MTCH2's hydrophilic groove.
Key Points:
- MTCH2 significantly lowers the free energy barrier for lipid translocation across the membrane.
- MTCH2 exhibits a scrambling rate comparable to VDAC, a known mitochondrial outer membrane scramblase.
- Structural similarities suggest other membrane insertases with hydrophilic pathways may also act as scramblases.
Conclusions:
- MTCH2 functions as a scramblase, contributing to lipid transport in mitochondria.
- MTCH2 and VDAC may have complementary roles in mitochondrial lipid metabolism.
- The findings broaden the potential functional roles of membrane insertases.
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