A long-lasting question in membrane biophysics is what determines the partitioning of transmembrane segments between ordered and disordered phases. Here, we mined the human proteome for almost 5000 transmembrane segments and simulated them in a ternary lipid mixture that phase separates during the simulation. Curiously, none of the peptides partitioned to the ordered phase, yet some localised to the phase boundary. We then identified the properties of the peptides that made them prefer the boundary region.
The work was conducted in collaboration with the group of Fabio Lolicato at the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center.
Link to the preprint on bioRxiv.