scholarly journals The Permeation Mechanism of Cisplatin through a Dioleoylphosphocholine Bilayer

Author(s):  
Lorena Ruano ◽  
Gustavo Cárdenas ◽  
Juan Jose Nogueira

The investigation of the intermolecular interactions between platinum-based anticancer drugs and lipid bilayers is of special relevance to unveil the mechanisms involved in different steps of the anticancer mode of action of these drugs. We have simulated the permeation of cisplatin through a model membrane composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipids by means of umbrella sampling classical molecular dynamics simulations. The initial physisorption of cisplatin into the polar region of the lipid membrane is controlled, in a first moment, by long-range electrostatic interactions with the choline groups and, in a second step, by long-range electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions with the phosphate groups. The second half of the permeation pathway, in which cisplatin diffuses through the nonpolar region of the bilayer, is characterized by the drop of the interactions with the polar heads and the rise of attractive interactions with the non-polar tails, which are dominated by van der Waals contributions.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Ruano ◽  
Gustavo Cárdenas ◽  
Juan Jose Nogueira

The investigation of the intermolecular interactions between platinum-based anticancer drugs and lipid bilayers is of special relevance to unveil the mechanisms involved in different steps of the mode of action of these drugs. We have simulated the permeation of cisplatin through a model membrane composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipids by means of umbrella sampling classical molecular dynamics simulations. The initial physisorption of cisplatin in the polar region of the membrane is controlled, in a first moment, by long-range electrostatic interactions with the choline groups, which trap the drug in a shallow free-energy minimum. Then, cisplatin is driven to a deeper free-energy minimum by long-range electrostatic interactions with the phosphate groups. From this minimum to the middle of the bilayer the electrostatic repulsion between cisplatin and the choline groups partially cancels out the electrostatic attraction between cisplatin and the phosphate groups, inducing a general drop of the total interaction with the polar heads. In addition, the attractive interactions with the non-polar tails, which are dominated by van der Waals contributions, gain significance. The large energy barrier found when going from the global minimum to the middle of the membrane indicates that the non-electrostatic interactions between the drug and the non-polar tails are badly reproduced by the fixed point-charge force field used here, and that the introduction of polarization effects are likely necessary.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Ruano ◽  
Gustavo Cárdenas ◽  
Juan Jose Nogueira

The investigation of the intermolecular interactions between platinum-based anticancer drugs and lipid bilayers is of special relevance to unveil the mechanisms involved in different steps of the mode of action of these drugs. We have simulated the permeation of cisplatin through a model membrane composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipids by means of umbrella sampling classical molecular dynamics simulations. The initial physisorption of cisplatin in the polar region of the membrane is controlled, in a first moment, by long-range electrostatic interactions with the choline groups, which trap the drug in a shallow free-energy minimum. Then, cisplatin is driven to a deeper free-energy minimum by long-range electrostatic interactions with the phosphate groups. From this minimum to the middle of the bilayer the electrostatic repulsion between cisplatin and the choline groups partially cancels out the electrostatic attraction between cisplatin and the phosphate groups, inducing a general drop of the total interaction with the polar heads. In addition, the attractive interactions with the non-polar tails, which are dominated by van der Waals contributions, gain significance. The large energy barrier found when going from the global minimum to the middle of the membrane indicates that the non-electrostatic interactions between the drug and the non-polar tails are badly reproduced by the fixed point-charge force field used here, and that the introduction of polarization effects are likely necessary.


2003 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Róg ◽  
Krzysztof Murzyn ◽  
Marta Pasenkiewicz-Gierula

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations complement experimental methods in studies of the structure and dynamics of lipid bilayers. The choice of algorithms employed in this computational method represents a trade-off between the accuracy and real calculation time. The largest portion of the simulation time is devoted to calculation of long-range electrostatic interactions. To speed-up evaluation of these interactions, various approximations have been used. The most common ones are the truncation of long-range interactions with the use of cut-offs, and the particle-mesh Ewald (PME) method. In this study, several multi-nanosecond cut-off and PME simulations were performed to establish the influence of the simulation protocol on the bilayer properties. Two bilayers were used. One consisted of neutral phosphatidylcholine molecules. The other was a mixed lipid bilayer consisting of neutral phosphatidylethanolamine and negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol molecules. The study shows that the cut-off simulation of a bilayer containing charge molecules generates artefacts; in particular the mobility and order of the charged molecules are vastly different from those determined experimentally. In the PME simulation, the bilayer properties are in general agreement with experimental data. The cut-off simulation of bilayers containing only uncharged molecules does not generate artefacts, nevertheless, the PME simulation gives generally better agreement with experimental data.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246187
Author(s):  
Tianyi Jin ◽  
Samarthaben J. Patel ◽  
Reid C. Van Lehn

Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication process mediated by both native and non-native small-molecule quorum sensing modulators (QSMs), many of which have been synthesized to disrupt QS pathways. While structure-activity relationships have been developed to relate QSM structure to the activation or inhibition of QS receptors, less is known about the transport mechanisms that enable QSMs to cross the lipid membrane and access intracellular receptors. In this study, we used atomistic MD simulations and an implicit solvent model, called COSMOmic, to analyze the partitioning and translocation of QSMs across lipid bilayers. We performed umbrella sampling at atomistic resolution to calculate partitioning and translocation free energies for a set of naturally occurring QSMs, then used COSMOmic to screen the water-membrane partition and translocation free energies for 50 native and non-native QSMs that target LasR, one of the LuxR family of quorum-sensing receptors. This screening procedure revealed the influence of systematic changes to head and tail group structures on membrane partitioning and translocation free energies at a significantly reduced computational cost compared to atomistic MD simulations. Comparisons with previously determined QSM activities suggest that QSMs that are least likely to partition into the bilayer are also less active. This work thus demonstrates the ability of the computational protocol to interrogate QSM-bilayer interactions which may help guide the design of new QSMs with engineered membrane interactions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronak Y. Patel ◽  
Petety V. Balaji

Glycolipids are important constituents of biological membranes, and understanding their structure and dynamics in lipid bilayers provides insights into their physiological and pathological roles. Experimental techniques have provided details into their behavior at model and biological membranes; however, computer simulations are needed to gain atomic level insights. This paper summarizes the insights obtained from MD simulations into the conformational and orientational dynamics of glycosphingolipids and their exposure, hydration, and hydrogen-bonding interactions in membrane environment. The organization of glycosphingolipids in raft-like membranes and their modulation of lipid membrane structure are also reviewed.


Author(s):  
H. Jeremy Cho ◽  
Shalabh C. Maroo ◽  
Evelyn N. Wang

Lipid bilayers form nanopores on the application of an electric field. This process of electroporation can be utilized in different applications ranging from targeted drug delivery in cells to nano-gating membrane for engineering applications. However, the ease of electroporation is dependent on the surface energy of the lipid layers and thus directly related to the packing structure of the lipid molecules. 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid monolayers were deposited on a mica substrate using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique at different packing densities and analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The wetting behavior of these monolayers was investigated by contact angle measurement and molecular dynamics simulations. It was found that an equilibrium packing density of liquid-condensed (LC) phase DPPC likely exists and that water molecules can penetrate the monolayer displacing the lipid molecules. The surface tension of the monolayer in air and water was obtained along with its breakthrough force.


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