Impact of Cholesterol on the Stability of Monomeric and Dimeric Forms of the Translocator Protein TSPO: A Molecular Simulation Study.

ABSTRACT: The translocator protein (TSPO) is a transmembrane protein present across the three domains of life. Its functional quaternary structure consists of one or more subunits. In mice, the dimer-to-monomer equilibrium is shifted in vitro towards the monomer by adding cholesterol, a natural component of mammalian membranes. Here, we present a coarse-grained molecular dynamics study on the mouse protein in the presence of a physiological content and of an excess of cholesterol. The latter turns out to weaken the interfaces of the dimer by clusterizing mostly at the inter-monomeric space and pushing the contact residues apart. It also increases the compactness and the rigidity of the monomer. These two factors might play a role for the experimentally observed incremented stability of the mo

SUBMITTER: Si Chaib Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7570527 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature