Figure 18.

Direct involvement of phospholipids in ion translocation across the membrane, mediated by intimate lipid-protein interactions. Representative snapshots from MD simulations demonstrating: (left) the egress of Na⁺ through the lateral cytoplasmic fenestrations of the human P2X₃ trimer lined by lipid headgroups; (right) the lipids lining the hydrophilic aqueduct on the surface of the nhTMEM16 scramblase play a structural role in forming a ‘proteolipidic’ pore for ion conduction. The lipid headgroups interacting closely with the protein and coordinating the permeating ions are shown in red with the tails drawn in yellow. Reprinted with permission from ref 324. Copyright 2018 Elsevier.