Loading...

Study of the Gating Mechanism of Mechanosensitive Membrane Channels

Rasouli, Ali | 2018

766 Viewed
  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 50479 (08)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Mechanical Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Nejat Pishkenari, Hoessein; Zohour, Hassan; Jamali, Yousef
  7. Abstract:
  8. Mechanosensitive membrane channels are indispensable part of cells that sense and respond to mechanical signals. Hence, malfunction of these channels may cause various diseases. Despite numerous studies of these channels, there are still many unanswered questions surrounding these channels and their gating mechanism. Although there have been valuable experimental studies in this field, the need for modelling and computational studies are still felt since experiments face many limitations in this area. Thus, a channel that its crystallographic structure has been recently determined was chosen and studied using computational tools. In this study, gating of the channel under surface tension has been investigated both embedded in the lipid membrane and using bare channel simulations. Moreover, to gain a better understanding of the channel, mechanical properties of its components has been determined using steered molecular dynamics simulations with constant velocity and force. The mechanical properties obtained in the all-atom simulations can be used for continuum modelling of the channel. Afterwards, considering the pivotal role of the lipid bilayer on the gating of mechanosensitive membrane channels and the fact that the investigated channel belongs to Archaeal cells which have ether-linked lipids, a comparative study of ester- and ether-lipids have been carried out. Area per lipid and mechanical properties such as area compressibility modulus has been determined using two methods. The obtained values for area compressibility modulus were lower than previous computational studies, but closer to the experimental values predicted for each monolayer
  9. Keywords:
  10. Molecular Dynamics ; Mechanical Properties ; Mechanosensitive Membrane Channel ; Sensing Mechanical Load ; Ethereal Lipid

 Digital Object List

 Bookmark