Date of Award
5-14-2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
Advisor(s)
Shikha Nangia
Keywords
Lipids, MD Simulations, Membranes
Abstract
Lipids are an essential building block for human life. The amphipathic properties of these molecules enable them to form the cell membranes that act as a barrier between a cell’s interior and exterior. By forming membranes, lipids are directly involved in various cell processes and in the regulation of membrane transport. In this work, we explored the effects of membrane asymmetry on red blood cells and on two types of placental cells. Membranes were analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations after utilizing existing experimental data. Changes in cholesterol partitioning and in membrane properties such as density and area per lipid revealed a clear impact of asymmetry on membrane dynamics. The results of this work provide new insight into membrane asymmetry and provide a framework for future studies to be completed.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Amer, Faris, "Computational Biophysics of the Lipidome" (2023). Theses - ALL. 728.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/728
