Lateral and transverse diffusion in two-component bilayer membranes

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2003 May;11(1):21-8. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10125-x.

Abstract

We study the lateral and transverse diffusion of amphiphiles in two-component bilayer membranes, using a coarse-grained model for amphiphilic molecules and combined Monte Carlo-Molecular Dynamics simulations. Membrane structural properties, such as the mean thickness, are also measured. The dependence of such properties on membrane composition, inter-molecular interactions, and amphiphile stiffness is determined. In particular, we show that addition of shorter amphiphiles drives the model membrane towards a more fluid state, with increased amphiphile lateral diffusion rates. These results can be understood in the framework of a simple free-volume model. Furthermore, we observe an increase in the trans-membrane diffusion when the interaction energy of amphiphiles with their neighboring molecules is decreased.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Diffusion
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Membrane Fluidity*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Porosity
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Surface-Active Agents / metabolism
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water