“School of Nano-Sciences”

Back to Papers Home
Back to Papers of School of Nano-Sciences

Paper   IPM / Nano-Sciences / 14458
School of Nano Science
  Title:   Influence of Global and Local Membrane Curvature on Mechanosensitive Ion Channels: A Finite Element Approach
  Author(s): 
1.  Omid Bavi
2.  Charles Cox
3.  Manouchehr Vossoughi
4.  Reza Naghdabadi
5.  Yousef Jamali
6.  Boris Martinac
  Status:   Published
  Journal: Membranes
  No.:  14
  Vol.:  6
  Year:  2016
  Pages:   1-16
  Publisher(s):   mdpi
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
Mechanosensitive (MS) channels are ubiquitous molecular force sensors that respond to a number of different mechanical stimuli including tensile, compressive and shear stress. MS channels are also proposed to be molecular curvature sensors gating in response to bending in their local environment. One of the main mechanisms to functionally study these channels is the patch clamp technique. However, the patch of membrane surveyed using this methodology is far from physiological. Here we use continuum mechanics to probe the question of how curvature, in a standard patch clamp experiment, at different length scales (global and local) affects a model MS channel. Firstly, to increase the accuracy of the Laplace's equation in tension estimation in a patch membrane and to be able to more precisely describe the transient phenomena happening during patch clamping, we propose a modified Laplace's equation. Most importantly, we unambiguously show that the global curvature of a patch, which is visible under the microscope during patch clamp experiments, is of negligible energetic consequence for activation of an MS channel in a model membrane. However, the local curvature (RL< 50) and the direction of bending are able to cause considerable changes in the stress distribution through the thickness of the membrane. Not only does local bending, in the order of physiologically relevant curvatures, cause a substantial change in the pressure profile but it also significantly modifies the stress distribution in response to force application. Understanding these stress variations in regions of high local bending is essential for a complete understanding of the effects of curvature on MS channels.

Download TeX format
back to top
scroll left or right