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Induction of neuron‐like tubes and liposome networks by cooperative effect of gangliosides and phospholipids
Author(s) -
Akiyoshi Kazunari,
Itaya Ayako,
Nomura Shin-ichiro M,
Ono Naoaki,
Yoshikawa Kenichi
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03743-2
Subject(s) - ganglioside , liposome , biophysics , chemistry , fluorescence microscope , vesicle , micelle , choline , neuron , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , fluorescence , biology , membrane , neuroscience , physics , quantum mechanics , aqueous solution
Although there is a rather large abundance of gangliosides in neurons, their functional role is still unclear. We focused on a physicochemical role of gangliosides in the formation of tubular structures, such as axons or dendrites in neurons. When a ganglioside, GM3, was added to cell‐size liposomes that consisted of dioleoylphosphatidyl‐choline, tubular structures were induced and liposome networks connected by the tubes were observed by differential interference microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The potential for various gangliosides to induce tubes was dependent on the structures of their hydrophilic head group. With a large excess of gangliosides, the tubes are destabilized and small fragments, or micelles, are generated. The phenomenon was suggested by physical model calculation. Gangliosides may play a role as building material in neural unique tubular structures.