New Continuum Approaches for Determining Protein-Induced Membrane Deformations.

ABSTRACT: The influence of the membrane on transmembrane proteins is central to a number of biological phenomena, notably the gating of stretch activated ion channels. Conversely, membrane proteins can influence the bilayer, leading to the stabilization of particular membrane shapes, topological changes that occur during vesicle fission and fusion, and shape-dependent protein aggregation. Continuum elastic models of the membrane have been widely used to study protein-membrane interactions. These mathematical approaches produce physically interpretable membrane shapes, energy estimates for the cost of deformation, and a snapshot of the equilibrium configuration. Moreover, elastic models are much less computationally demanding than fully atomistic and coarse-grained simulation methodologies; however,

SUBMITTER: Argudo D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5448241 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature