Effects of ceramide on liquid-ordered domains investigated by simultaneous AFM and FCS

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Salvatore Chiantia - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Nicoletta Kahya - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jonas Ries - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Petra Schwille - , Chair of Biophysics (Author)

Abstract

The sphingolipid ceramides are known to influence lipid lateral organization in biological membranes. In particular, ceramide-induced alterations of microdomains can be involved in several cell functions, ranging from apoptosis to immune response. We used a combined approach of atomic force microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and confocal fluorescence imaging to investigate the effects of ceramides in model membranes of biological relevance. Our results show that physiological quantities of ceramide in sphingomyelin/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol supported bilayers lead to a significant rearrangement of lipid lateral organization. Our experimental setup allowed a simultaneous characterization of both structural and dynamic modification of membrane microdomains, induced by the presence of ceramide. Formation of similar ceramide-enriched domains and, more general, alterations of lipid-lipid interactions can be of crucial importance for the biological function of cell membranes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4500-4508
Number of pages9
JournalBiophysical journal
Volume90
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 16565041

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas