DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), is one of the key bilayer membranes of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) family which constitutes 40–50% of total cellular phospholipids in mammal cells. We investigate the behavior of an initially planar DPPC membrane under lateral pressures from −200 to 150 bar at...

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Main Authors: Subhalaxmi Das, Nikos Ch. Karayiannis, Supriya Roy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Membranes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/6/161
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author Subhalaxmi Das
Nikos Ch. Karayiannis
Supriya Roy
author_facet Subhalaxmi Das
Nikos Ch. Karayiannis
Supriya Roy
author_sort Subhalaxmi Das
collection DOAJ
description Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), is one of the key bilayer membranes of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) family which constitutes 40–50% of total cellular phospholipids in mammal cells. We investigate the behavior of an initially planar DPPC membrane under lateral pressures from −200 to 150 bar at 323 K using microsecond-scale simulations. We identify, with very high precision, the pressure range for the occurrence of critical phenomena, mainly undulation and rupture. Notably, under compression, the membrane initially thickens, leading to a phase transition to an undulated state between 40 and 50 bar, as gauged by the sharp changes in the diverse structural metrics. Stretching induces systematic membrane thinning, with rupture becoming probable at −170 bar and certain at −200 bar. The reverse compression cycle shows pressure hysteresis with a 10-bar shift, while the reverse stretching cycle retraces the pathway. System size has a minimal impact on the observed trends. Under extreme mechanical stress, particularly near critical phenomena, simulation times on the order of microsecond are needed to accurately capture phase behavior and structural alterations. This work provides important insights into understanding membrane behavior under extreme conditions, which are relevant to numerous biological and technological applications.
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spelling doaj-art-4cc7725eb889434e9fae7e2a55d70fe22025-08-20T03:27:24ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-05-0115616110.3390/membranes15060161DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and RuptureSubhalaxmi Das0Nikos Ch. Karayiannis1Supriya Roy2School of Applied Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, IndiaInstitute for Optoelectronic Systems and Microtechnology (ISOM) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales (ETSII), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, SpainSchool of Applied Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, IndiaDipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), is one of the key bilayer membranes of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) family which constitutes 40–50% of total cellular phospholipids in mammal cells. We investigate the behavior of an initially planar DPPC membrane under lateral pressures from −200 to 150 bar at 323 K using microsecond-scale simulations. We identify, with very high precision, the pressure range for the occurrence of critical phenomena, mainly undulation and rupture. Notably, under compression, the membrane initially thickens, leading to a phase transition to an undulated state between 40 and 50 bar, as gauged by the sharp changes in the diverse structural metrics. Stretching induces systematic membrane thinning, with rupture becoming probable at −170 bar and certain at −200 bar. The reverse compression cycle shows pressure hysteresis with a 10-bar shift, while the reverse stretching cycle retraces the pathway. System size has a minimal impact on the observed trends. Under extreme mechanical stress, particularly near critical phenomena, simulation times on the order of microsecond are needed to accurately capture phase behavior and structural alterations. This work provides important insights into understanding membrane behavior under extreme conditions, which are relevant to numerous biological and technological applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/6/161molecular dynamicsphospholipid bilayerbiophysicspressuremembrane ruptureatomistic simulation
spellingShingle Subhalaxmi Das
Nikos Ch. Karayiannis
Supriya Roy
DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
Membranes
molecular dynamics
phospholipid bilayer
biophysics
pressure
membrane rupture
atomistic simulation
title DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
title_full DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
title_fullStr DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
title_full_unstemmed DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
title_short DPPC Membrane Under Lateral Compression and Stretching to Extreme Limits: Phase Transitions and Rupture
title_sort dppc membrane under lateral compression and stretching to extreme limits phase transitions and rupture
topic molecular dynamics
phospholipid bilayer
biophysics
pressure
membrane rupture
atomistic simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/6/161
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AT nikoschkarayiannis dppcmembraneunderlateralcompressionandstretchingtoextremelimitsphasetransitionsandrupture
AT supriyaroy dppcmembraneunderlateralcompressionandstretchingtoextremelimitsphasetransitionsandrupture