Protein crowding and lipid complexity influence the nanoscale dynamic organization of ion channels in cell membranes.

ABSTRACT: Cell membranes are crowded and complex environments. To investigate the effect of protein-lipid interactions on dynamic organization in mammalian cell membranes, we have performed coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations containing >100 copies of an inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channel which forms specific interactions with the regulatory lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂). The tendency of protein molecules to cluster has the effect of organizing the membrane into dynamic compartments. At the same time, the diversity of lipids present has a marked effect on the clustering behavior of ion channels. Sub-diffusion of proteins and lipids is observed. Protein crowding alters the sub-diffusive behavior of proteins and lipids such as PIP₂ which in

SUBMITTER: Duncan AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5709381 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature