A 3D MODEL OF THE PERIPHERAL BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR AND ITS IMPLICATION IN INTRA MITOCHONDRIAL CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORT

A three-dimensional (3D) model of the peripheral benzodiazepine recept or (PBR) has been built using molecular dynamics simulations. The tran smembrane domain of the receptor has been modeled as five alpha-helice s, which are not long enough to cross the entire bilayer membrane but correspond approximately to only one phospholipid layer. The receptor model has also been rested as a cholesterol carrier, and molecular dyn amics simulations have shown that it could indeed accommodate a choles terol molecule within the five helices. All three known PBR sequences have been modeled, non no significant difference has been found betwee n them.