The Influence of Molecular Reach and Diffusivity on the Efficacy of Membrane-Confined Reactions.

ABSTRACT: Signaling by surface receptors often relies on tethered reactions whereby an enzyme bound to the cytoplasmic tail of a receptor catalyzes reactions on substrates within reach. The overall length and stiffness of the receptor tail, the enzyme, and the substrate determine a biophysical parameter termed the molecular reach of the reaction. This parameter determines the probability that the receptor-tethered enzyme will contact the substrate in the volume proximal to the membrane when separated by different distances within the membrane plane. In this work, we develop particle-based stochastic reaction-diffusion models to study the interplay between molecular reach and diffusion. We find that increasing the molecular reach can increase reaction efficacy for slowly diffusing receptors, whereas

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6818170 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature