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Fluorescent polyene ceramide analogues as membrane probes.
Ingrid Nieves1, Ibai Artetxe, José Luis Abad
1Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQACCSIC), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Jordi Girona 1826, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 7, 2015
Summary
New ceramide analogs act as fluorescent probes to study lipid membranes. These probes selectively mix with lipids and can detect gel-fluid transitions, aiding research into cell membrane microdomains.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Membrane biophysics
- Lipid chemistry
Background:
- Ceramides are crucial components of cell membranes, influencing their physical properties.
- Understanding lipid domain behavior is essential for cell membrane function.
- Novel probes are needed to investigate lipid organization, especially in the gel phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel ceramide analogs as fluorescent probes for lipid bilayers.
- To investigate the mixing behavior and phase sensitivity of these probes.
- To evaluate their potential for detecting lipid gel-fluid transitions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of three ceramide analogs with conjugated double bonds and doxyl radicals.
- Fluorescence spectroscopy (excitation/emission wavelengths, quenching).
- Fluorescence confocal microscopy.
- Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).
- Calorimetry.
Main Results:
- Synthesized pentaene I, Penta5dox, and Penta16dox ceramide analogs.
- Pentaene I exhibits selective mixing with lipids based on phase (higher emission in gel/liquid-ordered domains).
- Doxyl radical probes confirm sensitivity to bilayer physical state.
- Penta16dox can detect phospholipid gel-fluid transitions due to fluorescence quenching.
Conclusions:
- Ceramide analogs can serve as effective fluorescent probes for lipid bilayers.
- These probes exhibit selective partitioning into different lipid phases.
- Penta16dox is a valuable tool for detecting gel-fluid transitions in phospholipids.
- The probes facilitate the study of lipid organization in biologically relevant membrane domains.
