Energetics of cholesterol-modulated membrane permeabilities. A simulation study

Abstract: Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the permeation of four different solutesthrough different cholesterol containing lipid bilayers. In all bilayers the limiting permeationbarrier shifted towards the hydrophobic core, as the cholesterol concentration was increased.Cholesterols reducing effect on the permeation rate was observed, but under certainconditions results indicating an increased permeation rate with increasing cholesterolconcentration were also obtained.