2005/04/05 by Michael Patra, Patra, Michael
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior #Protein Structure and Dynamics #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0504101
arxiv created 2005/04/05 · openalex publication_date 2005/04/05 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
By means of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we study cholesterol-DPPC (dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine) bilayers of different composition, from pure DPPC bilayers to a 1:1 mixture of DPPC and cholesterol. The lateral-pressure profiles through the bilayers are computed and separated into contributions from the different components. We find that the pressure inside the bilayer changes qualitatively for cholesterol concentrations of about 20% or higher. The pressure profile then turns from a rather flat shape into an alternating sequence of regions with large positive and negative lateral pressure. The changes in the lateral-pressure profile are so characteristic that specific interaction between cholesterol and molecules such as membrane proteins mediated solely via the lateral-pressure profile might become possible.