Positively charged/cationic lipids are widely used as drug vehicles by taking advantage of the non-specific electrostatic binding to the negative surfaces of cells.
But if cells bothered to make negatively charged lipids, why don't they produce positive lipids?
Is there a known or hypothetical reason for this? Is it because it would disturb cellular function, or any other reason?
I would largely appreciate any comment.
Rafael
Perhaps the same logic behind these findings (that the negative charge of the ribosome shapes the charge of *most* of the proteome)?Article Ribosome surface properties may impose limits on the nature ...
In eukaryotic plasma membranes, you have negatively charged lipids majorly at the inner leaflet. Then the cell produces membrane proteins, which need to orient in the plasma membrane. They are oriented with the positive charge towards the inner leaflet... So here, the negative charge of the membrane lipids helps to orient the membrane peptides and proteins.
I believe the charge distribution throughout the cell is a complex thing, where some positively charged molecules help to guide the incorporation/trafficking/orientation of negatively charged molecules and vice versa. It evolved in this way. Sure, it would work the same if the lipids were positive and the peptides had an excess of the negative charge in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. This would be an alternative evolution pathway.
My comment is strictly my hypothesis and understanding of the topic. I do not have it backed by any study.
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