Lateral diffusion in lipid membranes through collective flows

E Falck, T Róg, M Karttunen… - Journal of the American …, 2008 - ACS Publications
E Falck, T Róg, M Karttunen, I Vattulainen
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008ACS Publications
There is no comprehensive model for the dynamics of cellular membranes. Even
mechanisms of basic dynamic processes, such as lateral diffusion of lipids, are poorly
understood. Our atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations support a novel, concerted
mechanism for lipid diffusion. We find that a lipid and its nearest neighbors move in unison,
forming loosely defined clusters. What is more, the motions of lipids are correlated over tens
of nanometers: the lateral displacements of lipids in a given monolayer produce striking two …
There is no comprehensive model for the dynamics of cellular membranes. Even mechanisms of basic dynamic processes, such as lateral diffusion of lipids, are poorly understood. Our atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations support a novel, concerted mechanism for lipid diffusion. We find that a lipid and its nearest neighbors move in unison, forming loosely defined clusters. What is more, the motions of lipids are correlated over tens of nanometers:  the lateral displacements of lipids in a given monolayer produce striking two-dimensional flow patterns. These flow patterns should have wide implications, affecting, for example, the formation of membrane domains, protein functionality, and action of lipases and drugs on membranes.
ACS Publications