Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures
Published on: March 20, 2019
How Do Ethanolamine Plasmalogens Contribute to Order and Structure of Neurological Membranes?
Ana West1, Valeria Zoni2, Walter E Teague3
1Department of Chemistry , University of Georgia , Athens , Georgia 30602 , United States.
Abstract:
Ethanolamine plasmalogen (EtnPLA) is a conical-shaped ether lipid and an essential component of neurological membranes. Low stability against oxidation limits its study in experiments. The concentration of EtnPLA in the bilayer varies depending on cell type and disease progression. Here we report on mixed bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-(1Z-octadecenyl)-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (C18(Plasm)-18:1PE, PLAPE), an EtnPLA lipid subtype, at mole ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2. We present X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) form factors F(q) from oriented stacks of bilayers, related electron-density profiles, and hydrocarbon chain NMR order parameters. To aid future research on EtnPLA lipids and associated proteins, we have also extended the CHARMM36 all-atom force field to include the PLAPE lipid. The ability of the new force-field parameters to reproduce both X-ray and NMR structural properties of the mixed bilayer is remarkable. Our results indicate a thickening of the bilayer upon incorporation of increasing amounts of PLAPE into mixed bilayers, a reduction of lateral area per molecule, and an increase in lipid tail-ordering. The lateral compressibility modulus (KA) calculated from simulations yielded values for PLAPE similar to POPC.
More Related Videos
09:01Metabolomic Analysis of Rat Brain by High Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Tissue Extracts
Published on: September 21, 2014
08:06Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient
Published on: September 3, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Lipids
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
The Fluid Mosaic Model
Membrane Fluidity
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...
Biosynthesis of Lipids