Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Cell membranes are the primary site of damage during cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen due to the formation of ice both inside and outside of cells. Formation of ice sequesters water away from the cell, which can result in severe dehydration. This project will use molecular dynamics simulations to study a realistic model of plant cell membranes containing multiple lipid species at different levels of desiccation to mimic the process of dehydration that occurs during cryopreservation, with two specific aims: (1) describe in atomistic detail the interactions of the aqueous environment with the various lipid components of cell membranes and how this impacts the biologically-relevant properties of these membranes, and (2) conduct 3D visualization of these molecular events. Molecular simulation and 3D visualization will enable the elucidation of what is a complex, challenging and yet fascinating problem in cryogenics.
Cell membranes are the primary site of damage during cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen due to the formation of ice both inside and outside of cells. Formation of ice sequesters water away from the cell, which can result in severe dehydration. This project will use molecular dynamics simulations to study a realistic model of plant cell membranes containing multiple lipid species at different levels of desiccation to mimic the process of dehydration that occurs during cryopreservation, with two specific aims: (1) describe in atomistic detail the interactions of the aqueous environment with the various lipid components of cell membranes and how this impacts the biologically-relevant properties of these membranes, and (2) conduct 3D visualization of these molecular events. Molecular simulation and 3D visualization will enable the elucidation of what is a complex, challenging and yet fascinating problem in cryogenics.
