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Order parameters in membranes: Following Joachim Seelig's path.

Estelle Morvan1, Axelle Grélard2, Erick J Dufourc2

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Summary

Joachim Seelig pioneered the use of ssNMR to measure lipid order parameters, revealing the dynamic nature of biological membranes. This research quantizes membrane fluidity across multiple scales, aiding in understanding lipid behavior and membrane properties.

Keywords:
Area per lipidBilayer thicknessChain with unsaturationCholesterolCycles and branched methylMembrane fluidityOrder parameterSolid-state NMR

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Biophysics
  • Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR)

Background:

  • Biological membrane models were established in the 1970s.
  • The dynamic nature of membranes was experimentally demonstrated by Joachim Seelig using ssNMR.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure order parameters of deuterium-labeled lipids using ssNMR.
  • To characterize membrane dynamics across intramolecular, molecular, and collective scales.
  • To investigate the influence of lipid structure and sterols on membrane fluidity.

Main Methods:

  • Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy.
  • Measurement of order parameters for C-D (2H), C-H, and C-C bonds in lipids.
  • Application of statistical mechanics to describe order parameter profiles.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a fluid membrane interior through ssNMR order parameter measurements.
  • Quantified membrane dynamics on intramolecular (Å/ns-ps), molecular (nm/1-100 ns), and collective (μm/μs) scales.
  • Revealed that membranes are rigid at glycerol/chain levels but fluid at the center/surface, with sterols acting as dynamic regulators.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid order parameters provide a comprehensive description of membrane dynamics.
  • Statistical mechanics analysis of order parameters allows calculation of chain length, bilayer thickness, and elastic constants.
  • The surface area per lipid can be accurately calculated from order parameter plateaus.