Steric Pressure among Membrane-Bound Polymers Opposes Lipid Phase Separation.

ABSTRACT: Lipid rafts are thought to be key organizers of membrane-protein complexes in cells. Many proteins that interact with rafts have bulky polymeric components such as intrinsically disordered protein domains and polysaccharide chains. Therefore, understanding the interaction between membrane domains and membrane-bound polymers provides insights into the roles rafts play in cells. Multiple studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of membrane-bound polymeric domains create significant lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces. Furthermore, our recent work has shown that lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces opposes the assembly of membrane domains. Building on these findings, here we report that membrane-bound polymers are potent suppressors of membrane phase separation, whi

SUBMITTER: Imam ZI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4914385 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature