Molecular dynamics simulations of an antifreeze protein at the lipid / water interface

Title
Molecular dynamics simulations of an antifreeze protein at the lipid / water interface
Publication Date
2023
Author(s)
Smith, E J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8090-4768
Email: esmith32@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:esmith32
Haymet, A D J
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Place of publication
The Netherlands
DOI
10.1016/j.molliq.2023.123050
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/58767
Abstract

The ability of antifreeze proteins (AFP's) and glycoproteins (AFGP's) to prevent damage to certain organisms under cold stress is well established. These molecules have also been shown to prevent chilling damage in some biological membranes and interaction between membranes and AF(G)P's has been observed during chilling events" however, the exact mechanism of membrane stabilization is still not well understood. Molecular modelling is an ideal technique for probing atomistic information in these systems although modelling studies to date have focused on peptide structure and the site and mode, e.g., insertion, of the peptide-membrane interaction. To provide insight into how AF(G)P's may act to stabilize (or destabilize) membranes during phase transitions, we have conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a solvated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) lipid bilayer containing an AFP Type I at the lipid/water interface at several temperatures. We present the analysis of several properties of the phospholipid bilayer that are relevant when considering phase transitions. Possible areas for concentrating future research efforts have been highlighted" namely the acyl chain order and the polar headgroups, both of which have been implicated in experimental studies of the stabilization of model membranes by AF(G)P's.

Link
Citation
Journal of Molecular Liquids, v.390
ISSN
1873-3166
0167-7322

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