A Systematic Molecular Modeling Study of the Effect of Lipid Bilayer Composition on Resistance to Alcohol-Induced Changes
EMSL Project ID
34932
Abstract
Production of ethanol and longer alcohols like butanol from cellulosic raw materials in a biorefinery setting is a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based energy and chemicals. While yeasts can be genetically engineered to degrade a variety of sugars or even cellulose directly, alcohol tolerance is a key issue in increasing the productivity and of a biorefinery-based production. A better understanding of alcohol tolerance in microorganisms and the effects of lipid bilayer composition on resistance to alcohols would allow us to take a more rational approach to improving biorefinery production strains. This is the main driving force behind this proposal.We have evidence that the changes in sugar-to-alcohol-metabolism in yeast cells are in part due to changes in the cell membrane in the presence of alcohol. These changes in the lipid bilayer include a structural transition called interdigitation which most likely affects the conformation of any transmembrane protein in the membrane and eventually disables them. Also mechanical properties of the membrane are crucial for protein function and they are altered in an alcohol containing environment as well.
This proposal aims at a detailed understanding of this issues and aims at a multiscale simulation approach to the interaction of phospholipid bilayers with alcohols.
The first part of the proposal focuses on models of yeast membranes with alcohols which are very important for improving the efficiency of bioreactors. This is based on a USDA funded project to study alcohol tolerance of different biomembranes in detail. The PI of this proposal is co-PI on the USDA project. In the second part we address large scale effects on mechanical properties by changing the environment.
We address the EMSL mission through the Themes "Biological Interactions and Dynamics" and "Science of Interfacial Phenomena" .
Project Details
Project type
Capability Research
Start Date
2009-10-01
End Date
2012-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
C. Xing, R. Faller, 'What is the difference between a supported and a free Bilayer? Insights from Molecular Modeling of different Scales? in Advances in Planar Lipid Bilayers and Liposomes Volume 12, Book chapter in press
Hoopes MI, MG Noro, ML Longo, and R Faller. 2011. "Bilayer Structure and Lipid Dynamics in a Model Stratum Corneum with Oleic Acid." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 115(12):3164-3171. doi:10.1021/jp109563s
Vanegas JM, ML Longo, and R Faller. 2011. "Crystalline, Ordered and Disordered Lipid Membranes: Convergence of Stress Profiles Due to Ergosterol." Journal of the American Chemical Society 133(11):3720 - 3723. doi:10.1021/ja110327r