Chloroform alters interleaflet coupling in lipid bilayers: an entropic mechanism
Chloroform alters interleaflet coupling in lipid bilayers: an entropic mechanism
R. Reigada, F. Sagués.
J. R. Soc. Interface, 12 (2015) 20150197.
Illustration of the entropic linking mechanism that explains the interleaflet coupling effect of chlf molecules (green) in phase separating lipid bilayers. Double-tailed lipids and chol are shown schematically in grey ordered domains are plotted in red shading and disordered domains in blue shading.
The molecular mechanism of general anesthesia is an unresolved issue. Some proposals suggest that the anesthetic compound changes the phasic state of the cell membrane. By means of molecular simulations we have unveiled that chloroform increases interleaflet interaction and promotes phase symmetry between membrane leaflets. This effect is due to an entropic mechanism that tries to avoid chloroform confinement to one of the leaflets. The reported effect and its consequences in transmembrane lipid distribution, cholesterol flip-flop, membrane curvature and mechanical properties is of interest for the understanding of the consequences of adding chloroform in cellular functions and its anesthetic effect.