Physiological roles of transverse lipid asymmetry of animal membranes

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Biomembranes
R J ClarkeK Cao

Abstract

The plasma membrane phospholipid distribution of animal cells is markedly asymmetric. Phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are concentrated in the inner leaflet, whereas phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) are concentrated in the outer leaflet. This non-equilibrium situation is maintained by lipid pumps (flippases or floppases), which utilize energy in the form of ATP to translocate lipids from one leaflet to the other. Scramblases, which are activated when physiologically required, transport lipids in both directions across the membrane and can abolish lipid asymmetry. Lipid asymmetry also causes imbalances in the areas occupied by lipid in the two membrane leaflets, contributing to membrane curvature. The asymmetry of PS across the plasma membrane plays a crucial signalling role in numerous physiological processes. Exposure of PS on the external surface of blood platelets stimulates blood coagulation. PS exposure by other cells during apoptosis provides an "eat me" signal to surrounding macrophages. Many peripheral and integral membrane proteins have polybasic PS-binding domains on their cytoplasmic surfaces which either provide a membrane anchor or affect activity. These domains can also dete...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 17, 2020·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Francesco Tadini-Buoninsegni
Oct 9, 2020·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·Zihao WangBing Xing
Dec 29, 2020·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·Paul L Else
Oct 4, 2020·Progress in Lipid Research·Houguo XuQinghui Ai
Apr 5, 2021·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Keigo MurakamiKuniyuki Hatori
Aug 27, 2021·Membranes·Miliça RistovskiJyh-Yeuan Lee

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