Flip-flop asymmetry of cholesterol in model membranes induced by thermal gradients. Issue 25 (15th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carter, James W.; Gonzalez, Miguel A.; Brooks, Nicholas J.; Seddon, John M.; Bresme, Fernando
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 16:Issue 25(2020)
• Page Start: 5925
• Page End: 5932
• Publication Date: 2020-06-15
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00546k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Thermal gradients induce flip-flop asymmetry of cholesterol in lipid membranes. Abstract : Lipid asymmetry is a crucial property of biological membranes and significantly influences their physical and mechanical properties. It is responsible for maintaining different chemical environments on the external and internal surfaces of cells and organelles and plays a vital role in many biological processes such as cell signalling and budding. In this work we show, using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations, that thermal fields can induce lipid asymmetry in biological membranes. We focus our investigation on cholesterol, an abundant lipid in the plasma membrane, with a rapid flip-flop rate, significantly influencing membrane properties. We demonstrate that thermal fields induce membrane asymmetry with cholesterol showing thermophobic behaviour and therefore accumulating on the cold side of the membrane. This work highlights a possible experimental route to preparing and controlling asymmetry in synthetic membranes.