How pore formation in complex biological membranes is governed by lipid composition, mechanics, and lateral sorting.

ABSTRACT: The primary function of biological membranes is to enable compartmentalization among cells and organelles. Loss of integrity by the formation of membrane pores would trigger uncontrolled depolarization or influx of toxic compounds, posing a fatal threat to living cells. How the lipid complexity of biological membranes enables mechanical stability against pore formation while, simultaneously, allowing for ongoing membrane remodeling is largely enigmatic. We performed molecular dynamics simulations of eight complex lipid membranes including the plasma membrane and membranes of the organelles endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, lysosome, and mitochondrion. To quantify the mechanical stability of these membranes, we computed the free energy of transmembrane pore nucleation as well as the line tensio

SUBMITTER: Starke LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879431 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature