Gas molecules could be transferred through the lipid bilayer by kinks-solitons

Abstract

A hypothesis on the transfer of gas molecules through erythrocyte membrane by kink-solitons is discussed. Earlier it was supposed that gas molecules could be transferred through the lipid bilayer by kinks. It is accepted that kinks can emerge due to thermal vibrations. However, it remained unclear how the chaotic thermal vibrations can generate kinks moving along a hydrocarbon chain. According to the proposed hypothesis, kink-solitons appear under the simultaneous action of compressive lateral mechanical stresses and straining longitudinal mechanical stresses in the membrane. Compressive lateral stresses should have a certain value. This model explains a sharp increase in gas permeability of the membrane that occurs when erythrocyte passes through a microcapillary network, which is accompanied by substantially increased compressive lateral mechanical stresses.