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Updated: Jul 3, 2025

Assembly of Cell Mimicking Supported and Suspended Lipid Bilayer Models for the Study of Molecular Interactions
Published on: August 3, 2021
Influence of adhesion-promoting glycolipids on the structure and stability of solid-supported lipid double-bilayers
Lukas Bange1, Tetiana Mukhina1, Giovanna Fragneto2,3
1Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, TU Darmstadt, Hochschulstraße 8, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany. emanuel.schneck@pkm.tu-darmstadt.de.
Abstract:
Glycolipids have a considerable influence on the interaction between adjacent biomembranes and can promote membrane adhesion trough favorable sugar-sugar "bonds" even at low glycolipid fractions. Here, in order to obtain structural insights into this phenomenon, we utilize neutron reflectometry in combination with a floating lipid bilayer architecture that brings two glycolipid-loaded lipid bilayers to close proximity. We find that selected glycolipids with di-, or oligosaccharide headgroups affect the inter-bilayer water layer thickness and appear to contribute to the stability of the double-bilayer architecture by promoting adhesion of adjacent bilayers even against induced electrostatic repulsion. However, we do not observe any redistribution of glycolipids that would maximize the density of sugar-sugar contacts. Our results point towards possible strategies for the investigation of interactions between cell surfaces involving specific protein-protein, lipid-lipid, or protein-lipid binding.
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