Simulation-based survey of TMEM16 family reveals that robust lipid scrambling requires an open groove.

ABSTRACT: Biological membranes are complex and dynamic structures with different populations of lipids in their inner and outer leaflets. The Ca²⁺-activated TMEM16 family of membrane proteins plays an important role in collapsing this asymmetric lipid distribution by spontaneously and bidirectionally scrambling phospholipids between the two leaflets, which can initiate signaling and alter the physical properties of the membrane. While evidence shows that lipid scrambling can occur via an open hydrophilic pathway (groove) that spans the membrane, it remains unclear if all family members facilitate lipid movement in this manner. Here, we present a comprehensive computational study of lipid scrambling by all TMEM16 members with experimentally solved structures. We performed coarse-grained mo

SUBMITTER: Stephens CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12327946 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature