Interaction and fusion of unilamellar vesicles containing cerebrosides and sulfatides induced by myelin basic protein

The effects of myelin basic protein on the aggregation, lipid bilayer merging, intercommunication of aqueous compartments and leakage of small unilamellar vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine containing different proportions of galactocerebroside and sulfatide were investigated. This was performed employing light scattering, absorbance changes and fluorescence assays (resonance energy transfer, Terbium/dipicolinic acid assay and carboxyfluorescein release). The apposition of membranes rapidly induced by myelin basic protein is enhanced by sulfatide but reduced by galactocerebroside compared to vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine alone. On the other hand, the presence of either glycosphingolipid in the membrane interferes with the induction by myelin basic protein of lipid bilayer merging, subsequent fusion and changes of the membrane permeability. Our results support an important modulation by sulfatide and galactocerebroside on the interactions among membranes induced by myelin basic protein, depending on the relative proportions of the glycosphingolipids and phosphatidylcholine.