This project is focused on understanding the role of calcium in membrane fusion at the atomic level. Membrane fusion is an intense area of experimental research,
however, direct imaging of the membrane fusion mechanism has not been possible due to transient nature of the
fusion process. As an alternative to experiments, molecular dynamics simulations provide a means to investigate the structure
and function of complex biological systems, such as fusion of bilayers with atomic-scale resolution.
Nearly 40 years ago, experiments suggested pure phospholipid vesicles may undergo fusion in the presence of Ca2+.
These experiments have shown that Ca2+ interacts strongly with apposed bilayers, inducing fusion and
forming 1:2 complexes of Ca2+/PS. From these results, it was hypothesized that Ca2+
might induce fusion by reducing the electrostatic repulsion between apposed lipid bilayers. Furthermore, it
was proposed that in the initial stages of the fusion process, Ca2+ formed bridges between apposed lipid bilayers,
creating an ``anhydrous-complex'', expelling water from the lipid head groups.
The formation of the anhydrous complex and expulsion of water from the lipid head groups could lead to bilayer destabilization and eventual fusion.
In an effort to understand the role of Ca2+ in fusion of lipid vesicles, molecular
dynamics simulations have been performed on closely apposed lipid bilayers composed of DMPC and POPS in the presence of Ca2+.
Of particular interest is the formation of the hypothesized anhydrous complex between apposed phospholipids and Ca2+, and the
effect of Ca2+ on the hydration and structure of closely apposed lipid bilayers.
Molecular dynamics simulations show that
Ca2+ is capable of bridging apposed bilayers.
The bridging brings regions of the bilayers into close contact of ∼ 3 Å.
This separation is in close agreement with our preliminary simulation with DMP- in the presence of Ca2+, as well as
earlier experimental work. The process of Ca2+ bridging of apposed lipids results
in significant ordering of the lipid tails and bilayer thinning, consistent with simulations of bilayer dehydration,
validating our hypothesis that Ca2+ bridging leads to local dehydration of lipid membranes. Similar calculations
performed with Na+ instead of Ca2+ did not exhibit bridging of apposed lipid headgroups, illustrating the unique
role of Ca2+.
The simulations presented in this work provide the first evidence from atomistic simulations of the
formation of the anhydrous complex hypothesized by experiments.
","abstract_html":"<p>This project is focused on understanding the role of calcium in membrane fusion at the atomic level. Membrane fusion is an intense area of experimental research,</p> <p>however, direct imaging of the membrane fusion mechanism has not been possible due to transient nature of the</p> <p>fusion process. As an alternative to experiments, molecular dynamics simulations provide a means to investigate the structure</p> <p>and function of complex biological systems, such as fusion of bilayers with atomic-scale resolution.</p> <p>Nearly 40 years ago, experiments suggested pure phospholipid vesicles may undergo fusion in the presence of Ca<sup>2+</sup>.</p> <p>These experiments have shown that Ca<sup>2+</sup> interacts strongly with apposed bilayers, inducing fusion and</p> <p>forming 1:2 complexes of Ca<sup>2+</sup>/PS. From these results, it was hypothesized that Ca<sup>2+</sup></p> <p>might induce fusion by reducing the electrostatic repulsion between apposed lipid bilayers. Furthermore, it</p> <p>was proposed that in the initial stages of the fusion process, Ca<sup>2+</sup> formed bridges between apposed lipid bilayers,</p> <p>creating an ``anhydrous-complex'', expelling water from the lipid head groups.</p> <p>The formation of the anhydrous complex and expulsion of water from the lipid head groups could lead to bilayer destabilization and eventual fusion.</p> <p>In an effort to understand the role of Ca<sup>2+</sup> in fusion of lipid vesicles, molecular</p> <p>dynamics simulations have been performed on closely apposed lipid bilayers composed of DMPC and POPS in the presence of Ca<sup>2+</sup>.</p> <p>Of particular interest is the formation of the hypothesized anhydrous complex between apposed phospholipids and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and the</p> <p>effect of Ca<sup>2+</sup> on the hydration and structure of closely apposed lipid bilayers.</p> <p>Molecular dynamics simulations show that</p> <p>Ca<sup>2+</sup> is capable of bridging apposed bilayers.</p> <p>The bridging brings regions of the bilayers into close contact of ∼ 3 Å.</p> <p>This separation is in close agreement with our preliminary simulation with DMP<sup>-</sup> in the presence of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, as well as</p> <p>earlier experimental work. The process of Ca<sup>2+</sup> bridging of apposed lipids results</p> <p>in significant ordering of the lipid tails and bilayer thinning, consistent with simulations of bilayer dehydration,</p> <p>validating our hypothesis that Ca<sup>2+</sup> bridging leads to local dehydration of lipid membranes. Similar calculations</p> <p>performed with Na<sup>+</sup> instead of Ca<sup>2+</sup> did not exhibit bridging of apposed lipid headgroups, illustrating the unique</p> <p>role of Ca<sup>2+</sup>.</p> <p>The simulations presented in this work provide the first evidence from atomistic simulations of the</p> <p>formation of the anhydrous complex hypothesized by experiments.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Issa, Zeena Kas"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"WSU Access","degree_discipline":"Chemical Engineering and Materials Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jeffrey J. Potoff","Charles W. Manke"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:58:42Z","subjects":["anhydrous","calcium","fusion","lipids","membrane","water exclusion","Chemical Engineering","Physiology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/170","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jeffrey J. Potoff","Charles W. Manke"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Issa, Zeena Kas"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2011-01-04T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Chemical Engineering and Materials Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["WSU Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["anhydrous","calcium","fusion","lipids","membrane","water exclusion","Chemical Engineering","Physiology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/170"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This project is focused on understanding the role of calcium in membrane fusion at the atomic level. Membrane fusion is an intense area of experimental research,
however, direct imaging of the membrane fusion mechanism has not been possible due to transient nature of the
fusion process. As an alternative to experiments, molecular dynamics simulations provide a means to investigate the structure
and function of complex biological systems, such as fusion of bilayers with atomic-scale resolution.
Nearly 40 years ago, experiments suggested pure phospholipid vesicles may undergo fusion in the presence of Ca2+.
These experiments have shown that Ca2+ interacts strongly with apposed bilayers, inducing fusion and
forming 1:2 complexes of Ca2+/PS. From these results, it was hypothesized that Ca2+
might induce fusion by reducing the electrostatic repulsion between apposed lipid bilayers. Furthermore, it
was proposed that in the initial stages of the fusion process, Ca2+ formed bridges between apposed lipid bilayers,
creating an ``anhydrous-complex'', expelling water from the lipid head groups.
The formation of the anhydrous complex and expulsion of water from the lipid head groups could lead to bilayer destabilization and eventual fusion.
In an effort to understand the role of Ca2+ in fusion of lipid vesicles, molecular
dynamics simulations have been performed on closely apposed lipid bilayers composed of DMPC and POPS in the presence of Ca2+.
Of particular interest is the formation of the hypothesized anhydrous complex between apposed phospholipids and Ca2+, and the
effect of Ca2+ on the hydration and structure of closely apposed lipid bilayers.
Molecular dynamics simulations show that
Ca2+ is capable of bridging apposed bilayers.
The bridging brings regions of the bilayers into close contact of ∼ 3 Å.
This separation is in close agreement with our preliminary simulation with DMP- in the presence of Ca2+, as well as
earlier experimental work. The process of Ca2+ bridging of apposed lipids results
in significant ordering of the lipid tails and bilayer thinning, consistent with simulations of bilayer dehydration,
validating our hypothesis that Ca2+ bridging leads to local dehydration of lipid membranes. Similar calculations
performed with Na+ instead of Ca2+ did not exhibit bridging of apposed lipid headgroups, illustrating the unique
role of Ca2+.
The simulations presented in this work provide the first evidence from atomistic simulations of the
formation of the anhydrous complex hypothesized by experiments.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Role Of Calcium In Membrane Fusion"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jeffrey J. Potoff","Charles W. Manke"],"dc:creator":["Issa, Zeena Kas"],"dc:date.available":["2011-01-04T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This project is focused on understanding the role of calcium in membrane fusion at the atomic level. Membrane fusion is an intense area of experimental research,
however, direct imaging of the membrane fusion mechanism has not been possible due to transient nature of the
fusion process. As an alternative to experiments, molecular dynamics simulations provide a means to investigate the structure
and function of complex biological systems, such as fusion of bilayers with atomic-scale resolution.
Nearly 40 years ago, experiments suggested pure phospholipid vesicles may undergo fusion in the presence of Ca2+.
These experiments have shown that Ca2+ interacts strongly with apposed bilayers, inducing fusion and
forming 1:2 complexes of Ca2+/PS. From these results, it was hypothesized that Ca2+
might induce fusion by reducing the electrostatic repulsion between apposed lipid bilayers. Furthermore, it
was proposed that in the initial stages of the fusion process, Ca2+ formed bridges between apposed lipid bilayers,
creating an ``anhydrous-complex'', expelling water from the lipid head groups.
The formation of the anhydrous complex and expulsion of water from the lipid head groups could lead to bilayer destabilization and eventual fusion.
In an effort to understand the role of Ca2+ in fusion of lipid vesicles, molecular
dynamics simulations have been performed on closely apposed lipid bilayers composed of DMPC and POPS in the presence of Ca2+.
Of particular interest is the formation of the hypothesized anhydrous complex between apposed phospholipids and Ca2+, and the
effect of Ca2+ on the hydration and structure of closely apposed lipid bilayers.
Molecular dynamics simulations show that
Ca2+ is capable of bridging apposed bilayers.
The bridging brings regions of the bilayers into close contact of ∼ 3 Å.
This separation is in close agreement with our preliminary simulation with DMP- in the presence of Ca2+, as well as
earlier experimental work. The process of Ca2+ bridging of apposed lipids results
in significant ordering of the lipid tails and bilayer thinning, consistent with simulations of bilayer dehydration,
validating our hypothesis that Ca2+ bridging leads to local dehydration of lipid membranes. Similar calculations
performed with Na+ instead of Ca2+ did not exhibit bridging of apposed lipid headgroups, illustrating the unique
role of Ca2+.
The simulations presented in this work provide the first evidence from atomistic simulations of the
formation of the anhydrous complex hypothesized by experiments.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/170"],"dc:subject":["anhydrous","calcium","fusion","lipids","membrane","water exclusion","Chemical Engineering","Physiology"],"dc:title":["Role Of Calcium In Membrane Fusion"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Chemical Engineering and Materials Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["WSU Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:58:42Z"}