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Related Experiment Videos

Phosphatidylcholine structure determines cholesterol solubility and lipid polymorphism.

Richard M Epand1, Raquel F Epand, Donald W Hughes

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ont., Canada L8N 3Z5. epand@mcmaster.ca

Chemistry and Physics of Lipids
|April 28, 2005
PubMed
Summary

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Cholesterol induces polymorphic rearrangements in phosphatidylcholines, forming curved bilayer structures essential for membrane fusion. The acyl chain length and cholesterol concentration dictate phase transitions and cholesterol crystal hydration state.

Area of Science:

  • Membrane biophysics
  • Lipid polymorphism
  • Cholesterol-lipid interactions

Background:

  • Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) are key membrane lipids.
  • Cholesterol modulates membrane properties.
  • Understanding PC-cholesterol phase behavior is crucial for membrane function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate polymorphic rearrangements of phosphatidylcholines with varying acyl chains in mixtures with cholesterol.
  • Determine the influence of cholesterol on PC phase behavior and structure.
  • Characterize cholesterol crystal formation and hydration in PC-cholesterol mixtures.

Main Methods:

  • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
  • X-ray diffraction
  • Cryo-electron microscopy

Related Experiment Videos

  • Solid-state NMR (31P and 13C MAS/NMR)

    • Main Results:

    • PC (16:1)9 with 0.6 mol fraction cholesterol formed an ordered 14 nm array, potentially a cubic phase, enabling highly curved structures.
    • PCs with longer saturated acyl chains (20:1 to 24:1) transitioned to hexagonal phases at 70-80°C with 0.6-0.8 mol fraction cholesterol.
    • PC (18:1)6 remained lamellar up to 100°C, even with 0.8 mol fraction cholesterol.
    • Cholesterol crystals formed at high mole fractions, often in the monohydrate form, even after heating and cooling.

    Conclusions:

    • Cholesterol induces polymorphic rearrangements in specific phosphatidylcholines, facilitating formation of curved structures necessary for membrane fusion.
    • The acyl chain length of phosphatidylcholines dictates their polymorphic behavior in mixtures with cholesterol.
    • Cholesterol's hydration state in mixtures is influenced by acyl chain type and mole fraction, with a preference for the monohydrate form observed.