Effects of Cardiolipin on the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane-Anchored Bcl-xL

The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL regulates apoptosis by preventing the permeation of the mitochondrial outer membrane by pro-apoptotic pore-forming proteins, which release apoptotic factors into the cytosol that ultimately lead to cell death. Two different membrane-integrated Bcl-xL constructs have been identified: a membrane-anchored and a membrane-inserted conformation. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of the mitochondrial specific lipid cardiolipin and the protein protonation state on the conformational dynamics of membrane-anchored Bcl-xL. The analysis reveals that the protonation state of the protein and cardiolipin content of the membrane modulate the orientation of the soluble head region (helices alpha 1 through alpha 7) and hence the exposure of its BH3-binding groove, which is required for its interaction with pro-apoptotic proteins.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that the protonation state of the protein and the cardiolipin content of the membrane modulate the orientation of membrane-anchored Bcl-xL, affecting the exposure of its BH3-binding groove and thus its interaction with pro-apoptotic proteins.