The impact of physiologically relevant temperatures on physical properties of thylakoid membranes: a molecular dynamics study

• DOI: 10.32615/ps.2023.035
• Publication Date: 2023-10-10T08:36:00Z
• Authors: B. FEHÉR; I.K. VOETS; G. NAGY
• Keywords: Membrane biophysics; Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; Membrane Curvature

Thylakoid membranes are energy-converting with a unique lipid composition. Though the primarily composed of proteins, their photosynthetic function is strongly influenced by constituents. Here we characterize, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, bilayers compositions representative plant thylakoid membranes. We determine, in wide range temperatures, physical parameters model which relevant for function. found marked impact temperature on membrane permeability due to combination increased compressibility and curvature at elevated temperatures. With increasing observed increasingly smeared transmembrane density profiles forming headgroups predicting flexibility. The diffusion coefficient lipids without apparent specificity species. Instead comprehensive experimental dataset range, quantitatively compared validated our MD results simulations dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine system.