Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025
12:18
Assembly of Cell Mimicking Supported and Suspended Lipid Bilayer Models for the Study of Molecular Interactions
Published on: August 3, 2021
3.6K
Modulation of lipid vesicle-membrane interactions by cholesterol
Choon-Peng Chng1, K Jimmy Hsia1,2, Changjin Huang1
1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore. kjhsia@ntu.edu.sg.
Soft Matter
|September 12, 2022
Summary
Cholesterol stiffens lipid membranes, hindering nanovesicle uptake during endocytosis. It also affects membrane fusion, with minimal fusion occurring when both membranes are cholesterol-rich, impacting nanoliposome delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Nanoscale lipid vesicles are promising for drug delivery.
- Cholesterol stiffens lipid bilayers and influences membrane fusion.
- The role of cholesterol in vesicle-membrane interactions during endocytosis is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cholesterol modulates lipid vesicle-membrane interactions during endocytosis.
- To understand cholesterol's effect on nanoliposome cellular uptake pathways.
Main Methods:
- Systematic molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- Vesicle-membrane interactions and fusion dynamics were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol incorporation stiffens membranes, reducing vesicle wrapping and hindering endocytosis.
- Membrane fusion is accelerated when one membrane is cholesterol-rich.
- Fusion is minimal when both vesicle and planar membranes are cholesterol-rich.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol's impact on membrane mechanics influences endocytosis.
- Cholesterol concentration dictates membrane fusion outcomes.
- Findings offer insights for directing nanoliposome cellular uptake via cholesterol modulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Membrane Fluidity
154.8K
Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
154.8K
00:59Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
3.1K
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
3.1K
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
3.3K
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
3.3K
01:18Membrane Domains
5.6K
The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
5.6K
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
7.5K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
7.5K
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
75
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
75