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Magnifying the Structural Components of Biomembranes: A Prototype for the Study of the Self‐Assembly of Giant Lipids
Author(s) -
Yan XiaoYun,
Lin Zhiwei,
Zhang Wei,
Xu Hui,
Guo QingYun,
Liu Yuchu,
Luo Jiancheng,
Liu XianYou,
Zhang Rongchun,
Huang Jiahao,
Liu Tong,
Su Zebin,
Zhang Ruimeng,
Zhang Shuailin,
Liu Tianbo,
Cheng Stephen Z. D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201916149
Subject(s) - amphiphile , self assembly , molecule , chemistry , chemical physics , amphiphilic molecule , biophysics , nanotechnology , materials science , biology , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer
Abstract How biomembranes are self‐organized to perform their functions remains a pivotal issue in biological and chemical science. Understanding the self‐assembly principles of lipid‐like molecules hence becomes crucial. Herein, we report the mesostructural evolution of amphiphilic sphere‐rod conjugates (giant lipids), and study the roles of geometric parameters (head–tail ratio and cross‐sectional area) during this course. As a prototype system, giant lipids resemble natural lipidic molecules by capturing their essential features. The self‐assembly behavior of two categories of giant lipids (I‐shape and T‐shape, a total of 8 molecules) is demonstrated. A rich variety of mesostructures is constructed in solution state and their molecular packing models are rationally understood. Giant lipids recast the phase behavior of natural lipids to a certain degree and the abundant self‐assembled morphologies reveal distinct physiochemical behaviors when geometric parameters deviate from natural analogues.