Free-energy change of inserting halothane into different depths of a hydrated DMPC bilayer

P.-L. Chau (1) , K.-M. Tu (2) , K.K. Liang (3) , S.L. Chan (4) , Nobuyuki Matubayasi (5, 6)

1 Bioinformatique structurale - Structural Bioinformatics
2 NTU - National Taiwan University [Taiwan]
3 Academia Sinica
4 Chemical Computing Group, Inc
5 JST - Japan Science and Technology Agency
6 Kyoto University

Using the method of energy representation, we have calculated the free-energy change of inserting a hal-othane molecule into different depths of a hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayer at pressures of 10 5 Pa to 4 Â 10 7 Pa. Our results show that the free-energy change is more negative within the membrane than in bulk water. The halothane distribution is diffuse, and the preferred location is near the headgroup. The pressure effect is found to be minimal within the pressure range examined, which corresponds to previous biological experimental conditions.

Domains: Quantitative Methods [q-bio.QM]

P.-L. Chau, K.-M. Tu, K.K. Liang, S.L. Chan, Nobuyuki Matubayasi. Free-energy change of inserting halothane into different depths of a hydrated DMPC bilayer. Chemical Physics Letters, 2008, 462 (1-3), pp.112 - 115. ⟨10.1016/j.cplett.2008.07.037⟩. ⟨pasteur-01515515⟩