3D Pressure Field in Lipid Membranes and Membrane-Protein Complexes

Journal article
Lipid membranes
Vesicles
Proteins
Author

O. H. Samuli Ollila, H. Jelger Risselada, Martti Louhivuori, Erik Lindahl, Ilpo Vattulainen, and Siewert J. Marrink

Doi

Citation (APA 7)

Ollila, O. S., Risselada, H. J., Louhivuori, M., Lindahl, E., Vattulainen, F. I., & Marrink, S. J. (2009). 3D pressure field in lipid membranes and membrane-protein complexes. Physical review letters, 102(7), 078101.

Abstract

We calculate full 3D pressure fields for inhomogeneous nanoscale systems using molecular dynamics simulation data. The fields represent systems with increasing level of complexity, ranging from semivesicles and vesicles to membranes characterized by coexistence of two phases, including also a protein-membrane complex. We show that the 3D pressure field is distinctly different for curved and planar bilayers, the pressure field depends strongly on the phase of the membrane, and that an integral protein modulates the tension and elastic properties of the membrane.