Bioscience Reports
22 (2): 151-173, April 2002
Copyright © 2002 Plenum Publishing Corporation
All rights reserved

Towards an Understanding of Complex Biological Membranes from Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Leonor Saiz
Center for Molecular Modeling and Chemistry Department, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323. E-mail: leonor@cmm.chem.upenn.edu

Sanjoy Bandyopadhyay
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, West Bengal, India

Michael L. Klein
Center for Molecular Modeling and Chemistry Department, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323

Abstract

Computer simulation has emerged as a powerful tool for studying the structural and functional properties of complex biological membranes. In the last few years, the use of recently developed simulation methodologies and current generation force fields has permitted novel applications of molecular dynamics simulations, which have enhanced our understanding of the different physical processes governing biomembrane structure and dynamics. This review focuses on frontier areas of research with important biomedical applications. We have paid special attention to polyunsaturated lipids, membrane proteins and ion channels, surfactant additives in membranes, and lipidDNA gene transfer complexes.

Keywords
Biomembranes, membrane proteins, lipidDNA complexes, lipidprotein interactions, gene therapy, polyunsaturated lipids, surfactants, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ion channel, peptide bundle, docosahexaenoic fatty acid, fluid lamellar phase

Article ID: 454197