Tuning of Differential Lipid Order Between Submicrometric Domains and Surrounding Membrane Upon Erythrocyte Reshaping

Transient nanometric cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains, called rafts, are characterized by higher lipid order as compared to surrounding lipids. Here, we asked whether the seminal concept of highly ordered rafts could be refined with the presence of lipid domains exhibiting different enrichment in cholesterol and sphingomyelin and association with erythrocyte curvature areas. We also investigated how differences in lipid order between domains and surrounding membrane (bulk) are regulated and whether changes in order differences could participate to erythrocyte deformation and vesiculation.

We used the fluorescent hydration- and membrane packing-sensitive probe Laurdan to determine by imaging mode the Generalized Polarization (GP) values of lipid domains vs the surrounding membrane.

Laurdan revealed the majority of sphingomyelin-enriched domains associated to low erythrocyte curvature areas and part of the cholesterol-enriched domains associated with high curvature. Both lipid domains were less ordered than the surrounding lipids in erythrocytes at resting state. Upon erythrocyte deformation (elliptocytes and stimulation of calcium exchanges) or membrane vesiculation (storage at 4°C), lipid domains became more ordered than the bulk. Upon aging and in membrane fragility diseases (spherocytosis), an increase in the difference of lipid order between domains and the surrounding lipids contributed to the initiation of domain vesiculation.

The critical role of domain-bulk differential lipid order modulation for erythrocyte reshaping is discussed in relation with the pressure exerted by the cytoskeleton on the membrane.