Effect of cholesterol on the lateral nanoscale dynamics of fluid membranes

Summary, in English

Inelastic neutron scattering was used to study the effect of 5 and 40 mol% cholesterol on the lateral nanoscale dynamics of phospholipid membranes. By measuring the excitation spectrum at several lateral q (||) values (up to q (||) = 3 (-1)), complete dispersion curves were determined of gel, fluid and liquid-ordered phase bilayers. The inclusion of cholesterol had a distinct effect on the collective dynamics of the bilayer's hydrocarbon chains; specifically, we observed a pronounced stiffening of the membranes on the nanometer length scale in both gel and fluid bilayers, even though they were experiencing a higher degree of molecular disorder. Also, for the first time we determined the nanoscale dynamics in the high-cholesterol liquid-ordered phase of bilayers containing cholesterol. Namely, this phase appears to be "softer" than fluid bilayers, but better ordered than bilayers in the gel phase.

• Författare: Clare L. Armstrong; Matthew A. Barrett; Arno Hiess; Tim Salditt; John Katsaras; An-Chang Shi; Maikel C. Rheinstaedter
• Avdelning/ar: European Spallation Source ESS AB
• Publiceringsår: 2012
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 901-913
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: European Biophysics Journal
• Volym: 41
• Issue: 10
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00249-012-0826-4
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Springer
• Ämne: Physical Sciences; Natural Sciences
• Nyckelord: Lipid membrane; Cholesterol; Lateral membrane dynamics; Nanoscale; dynamics; Liquid-ordered phase; Inelastic neutron scattering; Dispersion; relation
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0175-7571