Ion-Induced Transient Potential Fluctuations Facilitate Pore Formation and Cation Transport through Lipid Membranes.

ABSTRACT: Unassisted ion transport through lipid membranes plays a crucial role in many cell functions without which life would not be possible, yet the precise mechanism behind the process remains unknown due to its molecular complexity. Here, we demonstrate a direct link between membrane potential fluctuations and divalent ion transport. High-throughput wide-field non-resonant second harmonic (SH) microscopy of membrane water shows that membrane potential fluctuations are universally found in lipid bilayer systems. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that such variations in membrane potential reduce the free energy cost of transient pore formation and increase the ion flux across an open pore. These transient pores can act as conduits for ion transport, which we SH image for a series of divalent

SUBMITTER: Roesel D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9801421 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature