TY - JOUR
T1 - Vesicle fluctuation analysis of the effects of sterols on membrane bending rigidity
AU - Henriksen, Jonas Rosager
AU - Rowat, Amy C.
AU - Ipsen, John H.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Sterols are regulators of both biological function
and structure. The role of cholesterol in promoting
the structural and mechanical stability of membranes is
widely recognized. Knowledge of how the related sterols,
lanosterol and ergosterol, affect membrane
mechanical properties is sparse. This paper presents a
comprehensive comparison of the effects of cholesterol,
lanosterol, and ergosterol upon the bending elastic
properties of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
giant unilamellar vesicles. Measurements are
made using vesicle fluctuation analysis, a nonintrusive
technique that we have recently improved for determining
membrane bending rigidity. Giving a detailed
account of the vesicle fluctuation analysis technique, we
describe how the gravitational stabilization of the vesicles
enhances image contrast, vesicle yield, and the
quality of data. Implications of gravity on vesicle
behaviour are also discussed. These recent modifications
render vesicle fluctuation analysis an efficient and
accurate method for determining how cholesterol,
lanosterol, and ergosterol increase membrane bending
rigidity.
AB - Sterols are regulators of both biological function
and structure. The role of cholesterol in promoting
the structural and mechanical stability of membranes is
widely recognized. Knowledge of how the related sterols,
lanosterol and ergosterol, affect membrane
mechanical properties is sparse. This paper presents a
comprehensive comparison of the effects of cholesterol,
lanosterol, and ergosterol upon the bending elastic
properties of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
giant unilamellar vesicles. Measurements are
made using vesicle fluctuation analysis, a nonintrusive
technique that we have recently improved for determining
membrane bending rigidity. Giving a detailed
account of the vesicle fluctuation analysis technique, we
describe how the gravitational stabilization of the vesicles
enhances image contrast, vesicle yield, and the
quality of data. Implications of gravity on vesicle
behaviour are also discussed. These recent modifications
render vesicle fluctuation analysis an efficient and
accurate method for determining how cholesterol,
lanosterol, and ergosterol increase membrane bending
rigidity.
KW - Lipid bilayer
KW - Membrane elasticity
KW - Mechanical properties
U2 - 10.1007/s00249-004-0420-5
DO - 10.1007/s00249-004-0420-5
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 15221234
SN - 0175-7571
VL - 33
SP - 732
EP - 741
JO - European Biophysics Journal
JF - European Biophysics Journal
ER -