Cholesterol Flip-Flop Impacts Domain Registration in Plasma Membrane Models
Abstract
The plasma membrane is a highly complex multicomponent system that is central to the functioning of cells. Cholesterol, a key lipid component of the plasma membrane, promotes the formation of nanodomains. These nanodomains are often correlated across the two membrane leaflets, but the underlying physical mechanism remains unclear. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the influence of cholesterol flip-flop on membrane properties, in particular, the interleaflet coupling of cholesterol-enriched domains. We show that the cholesterol density correlation between the leaflets of an average mammalian plasma membrane is significantly reduced by suppressing interleaflet cholesterol population. Our results suggest an amplifying role of cholesterol in signal transduction across the leaflets.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands). Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Inst. and The Zernike Inst. for Advanced Material
- Univ. of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands). Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Inst. and The Zernike Inst. for Advanced Material; Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands). Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1488792
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1508623
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-751356
Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185; 937164
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 9; Journal Issue: 18; Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Citation Formats
Thallmair, Sebastian, Ingólfsson, Helgi I., and Marrink, Siewert J. Cholesterol Flip-Flop Impacts Domain Registration in Plasma Membrane Models. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01877.
Thallmair, Sebastian, Ingólfsson, Helgi I., & Marrink, Siewert J. Cholesterol Flip-Flop Impacts Domain Registration in Plasma Membrane Models. United States. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01877.
Thallmair, Sebastian, Ingólfsson, Helgi I., and Marrink, Siewert J. Fri .
"Cholesterol Flip-Flop Impacts Domain Registration in Plasma Membrane Models". United States. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01877. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1488792.
@article{osti_1488792,
title = {Cholesterol Flip-Flop Impacts Domain Registration in Plasma Membrane Models},
author = {Thallmair, Sebastian and Ingólfsson, Helgi I. and Marrink, Siewert J.},
abstractNote = {The plasma membrane is a highly complex multicomponent system that is central to the functioning of cells. Cholesterol, a key lipid component of the plasma membrane, promotes the formation of nanodomains. These nanodomains are often correlated across the two membrane leaflets, but the underlying physical mechanism remains unclear. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the influence of cholesterol flip-flop on membrane properties, in particular, the interleaflet coupling of cholesterol-enriched domains. We show that the cholesterol density correlation between the leaflets of an average mammalian plasma membrane is significantly reduced by suppressing interleaflet cholesterol population. Our results suggest an amplifying role of cholesterol in signal transduction across the leaflets.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01877},
journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters},
number = 18,
volume = 9,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {9}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

Works referencing / citing this record:
Rapid diffusion of cholesterol along polyunsaturated membranes via deep dives
journal, January 2019
- Javanainen, Matti; Martinez-Seara, Hector
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 21, Issue 22
HIV-1 Gag specifically restricts PI(4,5)P2 and cholesterol mobility in living cells creating a nanodomain platform for virus assembly
journal, October 2019
- Favard, C.; Chojnacki, J.; Merida, P.
- Science Advances, Vol. 5, Issue 10
Recent Advances in Coarse-Grained Models for Biomolecules and Their Applications
journal, August 2019
- Singh, Nidhi; Li, Wenjin
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 20, Issue 15
Figures / Tables found in this record: