Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Phase Behavior of Charged Vesicles Under Symmetric and Asymmetric Solution Conditions Monitored with Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: October 24, 2017
The fluorescent cholesterol analog dehydroergosterol induces liquid-ordered domains in model membranes
Olav Garvik1, Peter Benediktson, Adam Cohen Simonsen
1MEMPHYS Center for Biomembrane Physics, Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
Abstract:
The fluorescent sterol dehydroergosterol (DHE) is often used as a marker for cholesterol in cellular studies. We show by vesicle fluctuation analysis that DHE has a lower ability than cholesterol to stiffen lipid bilayers suggesting less efficient packing with phospholipid acyl chains. Despite this difference, we found by fluorescence and atomic force microscopy, that DHE induces liquid-ordered/-disordered coexistent domains in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and supported bilayers made of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and DHE or cholesterol. DHE-induced phases have a height difference of 0.9-1 nm similar as known for cholesterol-containing domains. DHE not only promotes formation of liquid-liquid immiscibility but also shows strong partition preference for the liquid-ordered phase further supporting its suitability as cholesterol probe.
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Membrane Fluidity
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

