TY - JOUR
T1 - Lipid somersaults
T2 - uncovering the mechanisms of protein-mediated lipid flipping
AU - Günther-Pomorski, Thomas
AU - Menon, Anant K.
N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Membrane lipids diffuse rapidly in the plane of the membrane but their ability to flip spontaneously across a membrane bilayer is hampered by a significant energy barrier. Thus spontaneous flip-flop of polar lipids across membranes is very slow, even though it must occur rapidly to support diverse aspects of cellular life. Here we discuss the mechanisms by which rapid flip-flop occurs, and what role lipid flipping plays in membrane homeostasis and cell growth. We focus on conceptual aspects, highlighting mechanistic insights from biochemical and in silico experiments, and the recent, ground-breaking identification of a number of lipid scramblases.
AB - Membrane lipids diffuse rapidly in the plane of the membrane but their ability to flip spontaneously across a membrane bilayer is hampered by a significant energy barrier. Thus spontaneous flip-flop of polar lipids across membranes is very slow, even though it must occur rapidly to support diverse aspects of cellular life. Here we discuss the mechanisms by which rapid flip-flop occurs, and what role lipid flipping plays in membrane homeostasis and cell growth. We focus on conceptual aspects, highlighting mechanistic insights from biochemical and in silico experiments, and the recent, ground-breaking identification of a number of lipid scramblases.
U2 - 10.1016/j.plipres.2016.08.003
DO - 10.1016/j.plipres.2016.08.003
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27528189
SN - 0163-7827
VL - 64
SP - 69
EP - 84
JO - Progress in Lipid Research
JF - Progress in Lipid Research
ER -