Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations

The outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is involved in multiple cellular functions such as apoptosis, inflammation and signaling via its membrane-associated and -embedded proteins. Despite the central role of the OMM in these vital phenomena, the structure and dynamics of the membrane have regularly...

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Main Authors: Aline A. Oliveira, Tomasz Róg, Albérico B. F. da Silva, Rommie E. Amaro, Mark S. Johnson, Pekka A. Postila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Biomolecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/183
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author Aline A. Oliveira
Tomasz Róg
Albérico B. F. da Silva
Rommie E. Amaro
Mark S. Johnson
Pekka A. Postila
author_facet Aline A. Oliveira
Tomasz Róg
Albérico B. F. da Silva
Rommie E. Amaro
Mark S. Johnson
Pekka A. Postila
author_sort Aline A. Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description The outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is involved in multiple cellular functions such as apoptosis, inflammation and signaling via its membrane-associated and -embedded proteins. Despite the central role of the OMM in these vital phenomena, the structure and dynamics of the membrane have regularly been investigated in silico using simple two-component models. Accordingly, the aim was to generate the realistic multi-component model of the OMM and inspect its properties using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. All major lipid components, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS), were included in the probed OMM models. Because increased levels of anionic PS lipids have potential effects on schizophrenia and, more specifically, on monoamine oxidase B enzyme activity, the effect of varying the PS concentration was explored. The MD simulations indicate that the complex membrane lipid composition (MLC) behavior is notably different from the two-component PC-PE model. The MLC changes caused relatively minor effects on the membrane structural properties such as membrane thickness or area per lipid; however, notable effects could be seen with the dynamical parameters at the water-membrane interface. Increase of PS levels appears to slow down lateral diffusion of all lipids and, in general, the presence of anionic lipids reduced hydration and slowed down the PE headgroup rotation. In addition, sodium ions could neutralize the membrane surface, when PI was the main anionic component; however, a similar effect was not seen for high PS levels. Based on these results, it is advisable for future studies on the OMM and its protein or ligand partners, especially when wanting to replicate the correct properties on the water-membrane interface, to use models that are sufficiently complex, containing anionic lipid types, PI in particular.
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spelling doaj.art-d3775efac54f4812841dc2b7623952672023-11-23T18:57:48ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-01-0112218310.3390/biom12020183Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic SimulationsAline A. Oliveira0Tomasz Róg1Albérico B. F. da Silva2Rommie E. Amaro3Mark S. Johnson4Pekka A. Postila5Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093-0340, USADepartment of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, FinlandInstituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, São Carlos 13560-970, BrazilDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093-0340, USAStructural Bioinformatics Laboratory, Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093-0340, USAThe outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is involved in multiple cellular functions such as apoptosis, inflammation and signaling via its membrane-associated and -embedded proteins. Despite the central role of the OMM in these vital phenomena, the structure and dynamics of the membrane have regularly been investigated in silico using simple two-component models. Accordingly, the aim was to generate the realistic multi-component model of the OMM and inspect its properties using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. All major lipid components, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS), were included in the probed OMM models. Because increased levels of anionic PS lipids have potential effects on schizophrenia and, more specifically, on monoamine oxidase B enzyme activity, the effect of varying the PS concentration was explored. The MD simulations indicate that the complex membrane lipid composition (MLC) behavior is notably different from the two-component PC-PE model. The MLC changes caused relatively minor effects on the membrane structural properties such as membrane thickness or area per lipid; however, notable effects could be seen with the dynamical parameters at the water-membrane interface. Increase of PS levels appears to slow down lateral diffusion of all lipids and, in general, the presence of anionic lipids reduced hydration and slowed down the PE headgroup rotation. In addition, sodium ions could neutralize the membrane surface, when PI was the main anionic component; however, a similar effect was not seen for high PS levels. Based on these results, it is advisable for future studies on the OMM and its protein or ligand partners, especially when wanting to replicate the correct properties on the water-membrane interface, to use models that are sufficiently complex, containing anionic lipid types, PI in particular.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/183outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM)molecular dynamics (MD)negatively charged lipidsphosphatidylinositol (PI)phosphatidylserine (PS)membrane lipid composition (MLC)
spellingShingle Aline A. Oliveira
Tomasz Róg
Albérico B. F. da Silva
Rommie E. Amaro
Mark S. Johnson
Pekka A. Postila
Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
Biomolecules
outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM)
molecular dynamics (MD)
negatively charged lipids
phosphatidylinositol (PI)
phosphatidylserine (PS)
membrane lipid composition (MLC)
title Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
title_full Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
title_fullStr Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
title_full_unstemmed Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
title_short Examining the Effect of Charged Lipids on Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Dynamics Using Atomistic Simulations
title_sort examining the effect of charged lipids on mitochondrial outer membrane dynamics using atomistic simulations
topic outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM)
molecular dynamics (MD)
negatively charged lipids
phosphatidylinositol (PI)
phosphatidylserine (PS)
membrane lipid composition (MLC)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/183
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