On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes

Cell membrane structure is proposed as a lipid matrix with embedded proteins, and thus, their emerging mechanical and electrostatic properties are commanded by lipid behavior and their interconnection with the included and absorbed proteins, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and ionic media. Struct...

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Main Authors: Vanesa Viviana Galassi, Natalia Wilke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/7/478
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spelling doaj-0f7a2f53ed134c00a6bc3f1cb2d0c8f42021-07-23T13:53:18ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-06-011147847810.3390/membranes11070478On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological MembranesVanesa Viviana Galassi0Natalia Wilke1Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza M5500, ArgentinaDepartamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba X5000HUA, ArgentinaCell membrane structure is proposed as a lipid matrix with embedded proteins, and thus, their emerging mechanical and electrostatic properties are commanded by lipid behavior and their interconnection with the included and absorbed proteins, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and ionic media. Structures formed by lipids are soft, dynamic and viscoelastic, and their properties depend on the lipid composition and on the general conditions, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength and electrostatic potentials. The dielectric constant of the apolar region of the lipid bilayer contrasts with that of the polar region, which also differs from the aqueous milieu, and these changes happen in the nanometer scale. Besides, an important percentage of the lipids are anionic, and the rest are dipoles or higher multipoles, and the polar regions are highly hydrated, with these water molecules forming an active part of the membrane. Therefore, electric fields (both, internal and external) affects membrane thickness, density, tension and curvature, and conversely, mechanical deformations modify membrane electrostatics. As a consequence, interfacial electrostatics appears as a highly important parameter, affecting the membrane properties in general and mechanical features in particular. In this review we focus on the electromechanical behavior of lipid and cell membranes, the physicochemical origin and the biological implications, with emphasis in signal propagation in nerve cells.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/7/478lipid ionizationelectric fieldflexoelectricityelectro-mechanical propertieselectroporationnerve impulse
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Vanesa Viviana Galassi
Natalia Wilke
spellingShingle Vanesa Viviana Galassi
Natalia Wilke
On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
Membranes
lipid ionization
electric field
flexoelectricity
electro-mechanical properties
electroporation
nerve impulse
author_facet Vanesa Viviana Galassi
Natalia Wilke
author_sort Vanesa Viviana Galassi
title On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
title_short On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
title_full On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
title_fullStr On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
title_full_unstemmed On the Coupling between Mechanical Properties and Electrostatics in Biological Membranes
title_sort on the coupling between mechanical properties and electrostatics in biological membranes
publisher MDPI AG
series Membranes
issn 2077-0375
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Cell membrane structure is proposed as a lipid matrix with embedded proteins, and thus, their emerging mechanical and electrostatic properties are commanded by lipid behavior and their interconnection with the included and absorbed proteins, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and ionic media. Structures formed by lipids are soft, dynamic and viscoelastic, and their properties depend on the lipid composition and on the general conditions, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength and electrostatic potentials. The dielectric constant of the apolar region of the lipid bilayer contrasts with that of the polar region, which also differs from the aqueous milieu, and these changes happen in the nanometer scale. Besides, an important percentage of the lipids are anionic, and the rest are dipoles or higher multipoles, and the polar regions are highly hydrated, with these water molecules forming an active part of the membrane. Therefore, electric fields (both, internal and external) affects membrane thickness, density, tension and curvature, and conversely, mechanical deformations modify membrane electrostatics. As a consequence, interfacial electrostatics appears as a highly important parameter, affecting the membrane properties in general and mechanical features in particular. In this review we focus on the electromechanical behavior of lipid and cell membranes, the physicochemical origin and the biological implications, with emphasis in signal propagation in nerve cells.
topic lipid ionization
electric field
flexoelectricity
electro-mechanical properties
electroporation
nerve impulse
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/7/478
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