A computational analysis of the impact of Surfactant Proteins (SP-C) on the surface tension of pulmonary lipid monolayers

Presenter's Name(s)

Ali (Shervin) RazaviFollow

Conference Year

January 2020

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

Patrick Leahy Honors College

Program/Major

Biology

Second Program/Major

Mathematics

Primary Research Category

Biological Sciences

Secondary Research Category

Engineering & Physical Sciences

Abstract only.

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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.