Issue 30, 2022

Simulation study of domain formation in a model bacterial membrane

Abstract

Recent experimental studies revealed that functional membrane microdomains (FMMs) are formed in prokaryotic cells which are structurally and functionally similar to the lipid rafts formed in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we employ coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanism of domain formation and its physiochemical properties in a model methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cell membrane. We find that domains are formed through lateral segregation of staphyloxanthin (STX), a carotenoid which shields the bacteria from the host's immune because of its antioxidant nature. Simulation results suggest that membrane integrity increases with the size of the domain, which is assessed by computing bond order parameter of the lipid tails, membrane expansion modulus and water permeability across the membrane. Various membrane domain proteins such as flotillin-like protein floA and penicillin binding protein (PBP2a) preferentially bind with the STX and accumulate in the membrane domain which is consistent with the recent experimental results.

Graphical abstract: Simulation study of domain formation in a model bacterial membrane

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Apr 2022
Accepted
09 Jul 2022
First published
14 Jul 2022

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022,24, 18133-18143

Simulation study of domain formation in a model bacterial membrane

S. Gupta and T. Mandal, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 18133 DOI: 10.1039/D2CP01873J

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