Journal
MEMBRANES
Volume 11, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/membranes11070478
Keywords
lipid ionization; electric field; flexoelectricity; electro-mechanical properties; electroporation; nerve impulse
Categories
Funding
- FONCyT [PICT 2015-0662, PICT 2016-0758]
- SeCyT-UNC
- SIIP-UNCUYO [M074-2019]
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Cell membrane structure is mainly composed of lipids and embedded proteins, with their properties influenced by lipid behavior and interactions with other factors. The lipid bilayer consists of a soft, dynamic and viscoelastic structure, affected by lipid composition, temperature, pH, etc.
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.
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