A single bicontinuous cubic phase induced by fusion peptides

J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Jul 8;131(26):9166-7. doi: 10.1021/ja903224q.

Abstract

We report a bicontinuous cubic phase forming in the presence of the Influenza HA fusion peptide in coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations. Starting from a random mixture of DOPE, water, and fusion peptides, we observe spontaneous formation of a stable bicontinuous phase. Unlike all previously reported bicontinuous cubic phases the one formed in our simulations is a single phase in the sense that there are no multiple isolated compartments of water or lipid.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Orthomyxoviridae / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • 1,2-dioleoyl-glycero-3-phosphatidyl ethanolamine
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Peptides
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Water