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Alteration of Lipid Membrane Rigidity by Cholesterol and Its Metabolic Precursors
Author(s) -
Petrache Horia I.,
Harries Daniel,
Parsegian V. Adrian
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200550105
Subject(s) - sterol , cholesterol , lanosterol , membrane , lathosterol , structural rigidity , chemistry , biophysics , biochemistry , biosynthesis , membrane structure , biological membrane , rigidity (electromagnetism) , lipid bilayer , biology , materials science , enzyme , geometry , mathematics , campesterol , composite material
Caused by biosynthesis defects, cholesterol deficiency can lead to developmental disorders and malformations, with possible implication of lipid membrane properties. We show that modification of sterol chemical structure alters membrane physical properties significantly. By X‐ray diffraction and osmotic stress, we measure changes in the bending rigidity of bilayers containing either cholesterol or one of its metabolic precursors. Membrane elasticity differs dramatically between slightly different sterols and varies in the sequence lanosterol < 7‐dehydrocholesterol < lathosterol < cholesterol. We interpret the results in terms of sterol location within lipid structures and modification of lateral stress, a structural feature relevant to interactions within biological membranes. We find that cholesterol is most efficient in enhancing membrane rigidity, a possible clue to why depletion or replacement with other sterols can affect cellular structures.