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Lipid domains in model and biological membranes (Lipiddomäner)

The extracellular membrane, the plasma membrane, functions as a regulatory barrier for different substances that is involved in the maintenance of the cellular function.The packing properties of the plasma membrane regulate the flow of molecules across the two membrane leaflets.The packing properties also regulate the internalization and localization of proteins and protein complexes within the membrane.One key regulatory component of all membranes within a cell, not only the plasma membrane, is cholesterol.Its function is mainly to contribute to the quality of the membrane fluidity, besides its functions as precursor for steroid hormone synthesis and bile acids.The interactions of cholesterol with different phospholipid in membrane structures, have direct effects on the packing properties and fluidity of the membrane. -The aims of this research project are to study the interaction or affinity of cholesterol with different classes of phospholipids, mainly choline-containing phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine and spingomyelin.These two types are in a major quantity in the plasma membrane, and it has previously been recognized that these two phospholipids have a different strength in the interaction with cholesterol.The teqniques used are among standard lipid-chemistry techniques also Langmuir monolayer films, and monolayer fluoroscene microscopy of monolayer films.

Publication(s)

27.2.1996 / 4.3.1998