Phospholipid Membrane Protection by Sugar Molecules during Dehydration—Insights into Molecular Mechanisms Using Scattering Techniques

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Christopher J. Garvey²  Thomas Lenné¹  Karen L. Koster³  Ben Kent² 

[1]Research School of Biological Sciences, the Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

[2] E-Mail:

[3]Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC NSW 2232, Australia

[4] E-Mail:

[5]Department of Biology, The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA

[6] E-Mail:

关键词: cryobiology;    anhydrobiology;    X-ray scattering;    contrast variation small angle neutron scattering;    membranes;    phospholipids;    sugars;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms14048148

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Scattering techniques have played a key role in our understanding of the structure and function of phospholipid membranes. These techniques have been applied widely to study how different molecules (e.g., cholesterol) can affect phospholipid membrane structure. However, there has been much less attention paid to the effects of molecules that remain in the aqueous phase. One important example is the role played by small solutes, particularly sugars, in protecting phospholipid membranes during drying or slow freezing. In this paper, we present new results and a general methodology, which illustrate how contrast variation small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and synchrotron-based X-ray scattering (small angle (SAXS) and wide angle (WAXS)) can be used to quantitatively understand the interactions between solutes and phospholipids. Specifically, we show the assignment of lipid phases with synchrotron SAXS and explain how SANS reveals the exclusion of sugars from the aqueous region in the particular example of hexagonal II phases formed by phospholipids.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland