Capturing Lipid Nanodisc Shape and Properties Using a Continuum Elastic Theory.

ABSTRACT: Lipid nanodiscs are nanometric bilayer patches enveloped by confining structures, commonly composed of membrane scaffolding proteins (MSPs). To resolve the interplay between MSP geometry, lipid confinement, and membrane material properties on the nanodisc shape, we apply a continuum elastic theory accounting for lipid bending, tilting, and area deformations. The equilibrium nanodisc shape is then determined by minimizing the elastic free energy functional. Analytic expressions derived under simplifying assumptions demonstrate that the nanodisc shape is sensitive to its size, lipid density, and the lipid tilt and thickness imposed at the contact with the MSP. Under matching physical parameters, these expressions quantitatively reproduce the shape of nanodiscs seen in molecular dynamics simu

SUBMITTER: Schachter I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9979604 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature