A 3D model of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor and its implication in intra mitochondrial cholesterol transport

J Mol Graph. 1993 Dec;11(4):236-44, 235. doi: 10.1016/0263-7855(93)80003-a.

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) model of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) has been built using molecular dynamics simulations. The transmembrane domain of the receptor has been modeled as five alpha-helices, which are not long enough to cross the entire bilayer membrane but correspond approximately to only one phospholipid layer. The receptor model has also been tested as a cholesterol carrier, and molecular dynamics simulations have shown that it could indeed accommodate a cholesterol molecule within the five helices. All three known PBR sequences have been modeled, and no significant difference has been found between them.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacteriorhodopsins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pregnenolone / biosynthesis
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, GABA-A / chemistry*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Bacteriorhodopsins
  • Pregnenolone
  • Cholesterol