Presentation Title
A computational analysis of the impact of Surfactant Proteins (SP-C) on the surface tension of pulmonary lipid monolayers
Abstract
Surfactant proteins play an essential role in the stabilization of the pulmonary surfactant lipid monolayer . Monolayers are single molecule thick structures assembled from phospholipids with forces balance by hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. Pulmonary surfactant phospholipids form a monolayer that can contracts and expands during the process of respiration. Pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins in the lung play a role in the stabilization of the surfactant lipid monolayer. The purpose of this project was to use computational models to analyze the impact of the pulmonary surfactant-associated protein SP-C on the surface tension and collapse of the lipid monolayer found in the lungs. We use local stress calculations to understand how the surfactant proteins affect the mechanical properties of the lipid monolayer. Our results validify experimental observations as they indicate that the inherent surface tension of the monolayers decreases as the number of proteins in the simulation increases.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Juan Vanegas
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Second Student College
Honors College
Program/Major
Biology
Second Program/Major
Mathematics
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Secondary Research Category
Engineering & Physical Sciences
A computational analysis of the impact of Surfactant Proteins (SP-C) on the surface tension of pulmonary lipid monolayers
Surfactant proteins play an essential role in the stabilization of the pulmonary surfactant lipid monolayer . Monolayers are single molecule thick structures assembled from phospholipids with forces balance by hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. Pulmonary surfactant phospholipids form a monolayer that can contracts and expands during the process of respiration. Pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins in the lung play a role in the stabilization of the surfactant lipid monolayer. The purpose of this project was to use computational models to analyze the impact of the pulmonary surfactant-associated protein SP-C on the surface tension and collapse of the lipid monolayer found in the lungs. We use local stress calculations to understand how the surfactant proteins affect the mechanical properties of the lipid monolayer. Our results validify experimental observations as they indicate that the inherent surface tension of the monolayers decreases as the number of proteins in the simulation increases.