Lipid–Protein Interactions Are Unique Fingerprints for Membrane Proteins

Cell
membranes contain hundreds of different proteins and lipids
in an asymmetric arrangement. Our current understanding of the detailed
organization of cell membranes remains rather elusive, because of
the challenge to study fluctuating nanoscale assemblies of lipids
and proteins with the required spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we
use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the lipid environment
of 10 different membrane proteins. To provide a realistic lipid environment,
the proteins are embedded in a model plasma membrane, where more than
60 lipid species are represented, asymmetrically distributed between
the leaflets. The simulations detail how each protein modulates its
local lipid environment in a unique way, through enrichment or depletion
of specific lipid components, resulting in thickness and curvature
gradients. Our results provide a molecular glimpse of the complexity
of lipid–protein interactions, with potentially far-reaching
implications for our understanding of the overall organization of
real cell membranes.