Structure of lamellar lipid domains and corneocyte envelopes of murine stratum corneum. An X-ray diffraction study

Journal Article · Tue May 17 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Biochemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00410a031· OSTI ID:7190942

White, S H; Mirejovsky, D; King, G I

The lipid of the outermost layer of the skin is confined largely to the extracellular spaces surrounding the corneocytes of the stratum corneum where it forms a multilamellar adhesive matrix to act as the major permeability barrier of the skin. Knowledge of the molecular architecture of these intercellular domains is important for understanding various skin pathologies and their treatment, percutaneous drug delivery, and the cosmetic maintenance of the skin. The authors have surveyed by X-ray diffraction the structure of the intercellular domains and the extracted lipids of murine stratum corneum (SC) at 25, 45, and 70/sup 0/C which are temperatures in the vicinity of known thermal phase transitions. The intercellular domains produce lamellar diffraction patterns with a Bragg spacing of 131 +/- 2 A. Lipid extracted from the SC and dispersed in excess water does not produce a simple lamellar diffraction pattern at any temperature studied, however. This and other facts suggest that another component, probably a protein, must be present to control the architecture of the intercellular lipid domains. They have also obtained diffraction patterns attributable to the protein envelopes of the corneocytes. The patterns suggest a ..beta..-pleated sheet organizational scheme. No diffraction patterns were observed that could be attributed to keratin.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Irvine (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7190942
• Journal Information: Biochemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Biochemistry; (United States) Vol. 27:10; ISSN BICHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMALS
BODY
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
MICE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RODENTS
SCATTERING
SKIN
VERTEBRATES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION