Chloroform alters interleaflet coupling in lipid bilayers: an entropic mechanism.
The interaction of the two leaflets of the plasmatic cell membrane is conjectured to play an important role in many cell processes. Experimental and computational studies have investigated the mechanisms that modulate the interaction between the two membrane leaflets. Here, by means of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the addition of a small and polar compound such as chloroform alters interleaflet coupling by promoting domain registration. This is interpreted in terms of an entropic gain that would favour frequent chloroform commuting between the two leaflets. The implication of this effect is discussed in relation to the general anaesthetic action.
['Reigada|Ramon|R|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2177-7014', 'Sagués|Francesc|F|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2956-5676']
D002725:Chloroform D019277:Entropy D008051:Lipid Bilayers D008560:Membrane Fluidity D021962:Membrane Microdomains D008956:Models, Chemical D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation
chloroform lipid bilayer coarse-grained molecular dynamics anaesthesia interleaflet interaction