Bilayer Thickness Mismatch Controls Domain Size in Model Membranes

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja3113615· OSTI ID:1087472

Heberle, Frederick A ^[1]; Petruzielo, Robin S ^[1]; Pan, Jianjun ^[1]; Drazba, Paul ^[1]; Kucerka, Norbert ^[2]; Feigenson, Gerald ^[3]; Katsaras, John ^[1]

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1. ORNL
2. Canadian Neutron Beam Centre and Comelius University (Slovakia)
3. Cornell University

The observation of lateral phase separation in lipid bilayers has received considerable attention, especially in connection to lipid raft phenomena in cells. It is widely accepted that rafts play a central role in cellular processes, notably signal transduction. While micrometer-sized domains are observed with some model membrane mixtures, rafts much smaller than 100 nm beyond the reach of optical microscopy are now thought to exist, both in vitro and in vivo. We have used small-angle neutron scattering, a probe free technique, to measure the size of nanoscopic membrane domains in unilamellar vesicles with unprecedented accuracy. These experiments were performed using a four-component model system containing fixed proportions of cholesterol and the saturated phospholipid 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), mixed with varying amounts of the unsaturated phospholipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dioleoylsn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). We find that liquid domain size increases with the extent of acyl chain unsaturation (DOPC:POPC ratio). Furthermore, we find a direct correlation between domain size and the mismatch in bilayer thickness of the coexisting liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases, suggesting a dominant role for line tension in controlling domain size. While this result is expected from line tension theories, we provide the first experimental verification in free-floating bilayers. Importantly, we also find that changes in bilayer thickness, which accompany changes in the degree of lipid chain unsaturation, are entirely confined to the disordered phase. Together, these results suggest how the size of functional domains in homeothermic cells may be regulated through changes in lipid composition.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); High Flux Isotope Reactor; Spallation Neutron Source
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Director's R&D; SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1087472
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 135; ISSN 0002-7863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English