What controls the thickness of biological membranes

Yale University, New Haven CT

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We will make a set of X-ray measurements to determine the effect of trans-membrane protein concentration on the thickness profile of cell membranes. Such information, surprisingly unknown to date, will help in establishing an underlying framework for comparison of native and potentially pathological cellular membrane processes, which are known to correlate with membrane thickness. OmpF trimeric porins from E. coil will be reconstituted at a series of concentrations in lipid vesicles comprised of single lipid-types of varying lengths. Bilayer thickness profiles as a function of protein concentration and protein/lipid hydrophobic length mismatch will be measured. Computer simulations will augment the experimentally averaged thickness profiles by providing detailed molecular-level information regarding the interactions between the proteins and lipids comprising the membrane systems. A set of molecular dynamics simulations will be performed on the OmpF porin in an explicit bilayer setting. The simulations will address detailed structural adaptations (changes in bilayer thickness) to changes in protein concentration and lipid chain length. The impact of protein-protein correlations on bilayer thickness will be determined.