PNNL

Abstract

Experimental evidence suggests the cell membrane is a highly ordered structure that is compartmentalized by the underlying cortical cytoskeleton. The "picket-fence" model has been proposed as a mechanism to explain certain aspects of membrane compartmentalization. This model assumes that the cortical cytoskeleton transiently confines the motion of receptors and lipids in the membrane by serving as a physical barrier. However, the impact of receptor confinement on receptor clustering, dimerization and signal initiation remains controversial. Here, we use a computational approach to test the hypothesis that the rates of receptor clustering are functions of picket fence density, ligand-induced dimerization and receptor concentration. Our results support these concepts and are consistent with recent experimental data regarding the dynamic relationships between membrane receptors and the underlying cytoskeleton.