Randomly organized lipids and marginally stable proteins: a coupling of weak interactions to optimize membrane signaling.
Biochim Biophys Acta
; 1838(9): 2331-40, 2014 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24657395
ABSTRACT
Eukaryotic lipids in a bilayer are dominated by weak cooperative interactions. These interactions impart highly dynamic and pliable properties to the membrane. C2 domain-containing proteins in the membrane also interact weakly and cooperatively giving rise to a high degree of conformational plasticity. We propose that this feature of weak energetics and plasticity shared by lipids and C2 domain-containing proteins enhance a cell's ability to transduce information across the membrane. We explored this hypothesis using information theory to assess the information storage capacity of model and mast cell membranes, as well as differential scanning calorimetry, carboxyfluorescein release assays, and tryptophan fluorescence to assess protein and membrane stability. The distribution of lipids in mast cell membranes encoded 5.6-5.8bits of information. More information resided in the acyl chains than the head groups and in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane than the outer leaflet. When the lipid composition and information content of model membranes were varied, the associated C2 domains underwent large changes in stability and denaturation profile. The C2 domain-containing proteins are therefore acutely sensitive to the composition and information content of their associated lipids. Together, these findings suggest that the maximum flow of signaling information through the membrane and into the cell is optimized by the cooperation of near-random distributions of membrane lipids and proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Interfacially Active Peptides and Proteins. Guest Editors William C. Wimley and Kalina Hristova.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Membrana Celular
/
Membrana Dobles de Lípidos
/
Lípidos
/
Proteínas de la Membrana
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biochim Biophys Acta
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos