Neural Membrane Signaling Platforms

Abstract

Throughout much of the history of biology, the cell membrane was functionally defined as a semi-permeable barrier separating aqueous compartments, and an anchoring site for proteins. Little attention was devoted to its possible regulatory role in intracellular molecular processes and neuron electrical signaling. This article reviews the history of membrane studies and the current state of the art. Emphasis is placed on natural and artificial membrane studies of electric field effects on molecular organization, especially as these may relate to impulse propagation in neurons. Implications of these studies for new designs in artificial intelligence are briefly examined.

Assembly of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals with Solid Crystal’s Structural Order Translated from the Lipid Rafts in Cell Membranes

“…It is very intuitive to note that the lipid rafts localize molecular signals and bind them into discrete species such as dimer or trimer in a way that those species have a lower degree of surface roughness between the cell membranes. 9,14,15 Partial Chain Ordering Within CTAC-DeOH Micelles. Disordered chains in lyotropic liquid crystals bring a characteristic 4.5 Å X-ray band.…”

“…The lipid rafts permit a stable localization of molecular signals such as neurotrophin and facilitate their binding into discrete species such as dimer or trimer through the spatial matching-mediated molecular recognition, which orchestrates extra-and intracellular molecular processes including action potential propagation, synaptic transmission, and cytosolic cascades. 9,14,15 The spatial matching-mediated molecular recognition after all is a commonly found process in biological systems. 6,34 Translation of Intermolecular Interactions within the Lipid Rafts into the Liquid Crystals.…”

“…Many cellular processes and functions are performed by the dynamic nanoscale structural changes in the scaffold assemblages, which is regulated by specialized additives (molecular signals) or electric signals . For example, the assembly of the lipid rafts in cell membranes, which is essential for cellular signaling and trafficking, is triggered by the presence of cholesterol. − Other examples include endocytosis that is triggered by low-density lipoproteins and its receptors, transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis, exocytosis, membrane fusion and division, and the function of motor proteins. , The lipid rafts, in particular, have an intriguing but much higher structural order than the rest of the membranes. − This delicate molecular order emerges from the unique balance between intermolecular forces that operate between sphingolipid molecules and one particular molecular signal, cholesterol, , and plays an essential role for a range of molecular events in biological cells. − The order is a key to promote a faster rate of biomolecular reactions through molecular partitioning, and guides ligand reactions to create a functional configuration and morphology through a molecular recognition. − I hypothesized that if an additive that shifts the force balance with surfactant micelles the way as cholesterol does with sphingolipids in cell membranes is used, then it might be possible to translate this structural feature of the lipid rafts into the surfactant-based systems.…”

Methoxychlor and fenvalerate induce neuronal death by reducing GluR2 expression

“…Our results showing MK-801-mediated neuroprotection suggest that methoxychlor and fenvalerate-induced cell death is mediated by NMDA receptors as well as GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors. Normally, NMDA receptors, which have high affinity to Ca 2+ , are inactive due to a voltage-dependent Mg 2+ block; cancelation of this block by the postsynaptic depolarization of AMPA receptor causes long-lasting depolarization of NMDA receptor, leading to excessive Ca 2+ influx through NMDA receptors (Mayer et al, 1984;Wallace, 2010). It is thus possible that methoxychlor and fenvalerate-induced decrease of GluR2-including AMPA receptors might lead to Ca 2+ influx, followed by NMDA receptor activation with long-term depolarization with even higher Ca 2+ permeability, leading to neuronal death.…”

Rafts, Nanoparticles and Neural Disease

“…A full discussion of the raft mechanisms which may modulate neuron function is beyond the scope of this article. (For a recent overview see [ 39 ]). Here we simply note that rafts may play significant regulatory roles in synaptic transmission, action potential (AP) propagation, and membrane signaling to the nucleus.…”