Effect of cholesterol on the lateral nanoscale dynamics of fluid membranes

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · European Biophysics Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-012-0826-4· OSTI ID:1081954

Armstrong, Clare L ^[1]; Barrett, M ^[1]; Heiss, Arno ^[2]; Salditt, Tim ^[3]; Katsaras, John ^[4]; Shi, An-Chang ^[1]; Rheinstadter, Maikel C ^[1]

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1. McMaster University
2. European Spallation Source
3. Georg-August Universitat Gottingen Germany
4. ORNL

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.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1081954
• Journal Information: European Biophysics Journal, Vol. 41, Issue 10; ISSN 0175--7571
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Neutron Scattering
Model Membranes
Lipid Bilayers