Electrophysiological analyses of numerous cell types implicate a role for plasma membrane (PM) charge depolarization in cell proliferation. Terminally differentiated cells possess a hyperpolarized transmembrane potential (Vm) (-50 to -100mV), whereas proliferating cells tend to be depolarized with a Vm ≈ -10 to -40mV. A similar effect has been observed in multiple cancers, with the cancer cells being more depolarized compared to their cognate non-transformed cells. PM lipids are believed to be responsive to such changes in transmembrane potential (Vm) and may undergo significant reorganization in their structure and lateral dynamics upon changes in Vm. Considering the large number of signaling proteins at the plasma membrane, whose function is determined by their interactions with PM lipids, this could be a mechanism by which cancer cells sustain proliferative signaling. To understand this in greater detail, we are investigating the effect of Vm on PM lipid structure and lateral dynamics. We are performing detailed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a model binary bilayer using three variants of MD at different resolutions, which we will be discussing.

Identifying the effect of membrane depolarization on a model binary bilayer using molecular dynamics simulations

2019 Spring National Meeting

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