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Stabilization of the bio-membrane by small molecules: interaction of trehalose with the phospholipid bilayer

Chandrasekhar, I and Gaber, BP (1988) Stabilization of the bio-membrane by small molecules: interaction of trehalose with the phospholipid bilayer. In: Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, 5 (6). 1163-&.

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Official URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3271505

Abstract

Anhydrobiotic organisms undergo periods of acute dehydration during their life cycle. It is of interest to understand how the biomembrane remains intact through such stress. A disaccharide, trehalose, which is metabolised during anhydrobiosis is found to prevent disruption of model membrane systems. Molecular modelling techniques are used to investigate the possible mode of interaction of trehalose with a model monolayer. The objective is to maximise hydrogen bonding between the two systems. A phospholipid matrix consisting of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) is chosen to represent the monolayer. The crystal structure of DMPC reveals that there are two distinct conformers designated as A and B. An expansion of the monolayer, coplanar with its surface, results in the trehalose molecule being accommodated in a pocket formed by four B conformers. One glucose ring of the sugar rests on the hydrophobic patch provided by the choline methyls of an A conformer. Five hydrogen bonds are formed involving the phosphate oxygens of three of the surrounding B conformers. The model will be discussed with reference to relevant experimental data on the interaction.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics
Publisher: Adenine Press
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to Adenine Press.
Department/Centre: Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Biophysics Unit
Date Deposited: 04 Oct 2010 08:42
Last Modified: 04 Oct 2010 08:42
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/32566

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