Rotational decoupling between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in lipid membranes.

ABSTRACT: Cells use homeostatic mechanisms to ensure an optimal composition of distinct types of lipids in cellular membranes. The hydrophilic region of biological lipid membranes is mainly composed of several types of phospholipid headgroups that interact with incoming molecules, nanoparticles, and viruses, whereas the hydrophobic region consists of a distribution of acyl chains and sterols affecting membrane fluidity/rigidity related properties and forming an environment for membrane-bound molecules such as transmembrane proteins. A fundamental open question is to what extent the motions of these regions are coupled and, consequently, how strongly the interactions of phospholipid headgroups with other molecules depend on the properties and composition of the membrane hydrophobic core. We combine a

SUBMITTER: Antila HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8758420 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature