TY  - JOUR
A1  - Javanainen, Matti
A1  - Martinez-Seara, Hector
A1  - Metzler, Ralf
A1  - Vattulainen, Ilpo
T1  - Diffusion of Integral Membrane Proteins in Protein-Rich Membranes
T2  - The journal of physical chemistry letters
N2  - The lateral diffusion of embedded proteins along lipid membranes in protein-poor conditions has been successfully described in terms of the Saffman-Delbruck (SD) model, which predicts that the protein diffusion coefficient D is weakly dependent on its radius R as D proportional to ln(1/R). However, instead of being protein-poor, native cell membranes are extremely crowded with proteins. On the basis of extensive molecular simulations, we here demonstrate that protein crowding of the membrane at physiological levels leads to deviations from the SD relation and to the emergence of a stronger Stokes-like dependence D proportional to 1/R. We propose that this 1/R law mainly arises due to geometrical factors: smaller proteins are able to avoid confinement effects much better than their larger counterparts. The results highlight that the lateral dynamics in the crowded setting found in native membranes is radically different from protein-poor conditions and plays a significant role in formation of functional multiprotein complexes.
Y1  - 2017
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/46363
SN  - 1948-7185
VL  - 8
SP  - 4308
EP  - 4313
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  -