Dynamics of a lipid bilayer induced by electric fields

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2011 May 28;13(20):9216-22. doi: 10.1039/c1cp20322c. Epub 2011 Apr 5.

Abstract

The dynamics of a lipid bilayer of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine, POPE, is investigated under the effect of two electric field intensities. The box of 720 lipids and 13,458 water molecules-plus boundary conditions-undergoes similar re-organizational dynamics in the presence of fields of 0.35 V nm(-1) and 0.5 V nm(-1). Water fingers form followed by some lipid translocation from one layer to the other. The re-organization kinetics is of the second order and is roughly 5 times faster at the higher field. The translocations may occur also upon field switch off, provided that their duration was sufficiently long. Driving few lipid translocations by a macroscopic tool, such as the electric field, appears possible.

MeSH terms

  • Electricity
  • Kinetics
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Water
  • 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine