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. 2011 Jul 20;101(2):L8-10.
doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.06.019.

Control of a nanoscopic-to-macroscopic transition: modulated phases in four-component DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol giant unilamellar vesicles

Tatyana M Konyakhina, Shih Lin Goh, Jonathan Amazon, Frederick A Heberle, Jing Wu, Gerald W Feigenson

Control of a nanoscopic-to-macroscopic transition: modulated phases in four-component DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol giant unilamellar vesicles

Tatyana M Konyakhina et al. Biophys J. .

Abstract

We have found modulated phase morphology in a particular region of composition within the liquid-ordered + liquid-disordered coexistence region in the four-component lipid bilayer mixture DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol. By controlling lipid composition, we could see distinct types of modulated liquid-liquid phase morphologies, including linear, irregular, and angular features in giant unilamellar vesicles. We used a combination of confocal, two-photon, wide-field fluorescence, and differential interference contrast microscopies, and used stringent controls to minimize light-induced artifacts. These studies establish that both the size and morphology of membrane rafts can be controlled by the concentration and the type of low-melting lipid in mixtures with cholesterol and a high-melting lipid.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Modulated phases occur at ρ = 15–25% as POPC is replaced by DOPC along an Lo+Ld compositional trajectory (inset). GUV compositions DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol at 23°C: (A) 0.45/0.3/0/0.25 (ρ = 100%); (B) 0.45/0.06/0.24/0.25 (ρ = 20%); and (C) 0.45/0/0.3/0.25 (ρ = 0%). Dye C12:0-DiI (0.02 mol %, color-merged red) partitions into Ld. Scale bars 10 μm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
GUV patterns as POPC is replaced by DOPC are (A) uniform; (B) continuous Lo with asymmetric Ld domains; (C) honeycomb; (D) irregular patches of Lo; (E) regular striped pattern; and (F) round macro Lo+Ld domains, with compositions of DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol of 0.45/0.03/0.27/0.25 (A), 0.45/0.05/0.25/0.25 (B and E), 0.39/0.06/0.33/0.22 (C), 0.39/0.10/0.29/0.22 (D), and 0.45/0.30/0/0.25 (F). The dye is C12:0-DiI at 0.02 mol %. Scale bars, 10 μm; temperature, 23°C.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DIC and fluorescence show the same pattern. The DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol composition is 0.45/0.05/0.25/0.25 at 23°C. (A) DIC. (B) Fluorescence. (C) Superimposition of DIC and fluorescence. See Fig. S3 for additional images. Scale bars, 10 μm.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Different fluorescence microscopies show similar patterns at 23°C. (A) Confocal image, C12:0-DiI at 0.02 mol %. (B) Two-photon image Bodipy-PC at 0.02 mol %. (C) Wide-field image, C12:0-DiI at 0.02 mol %. DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol composition is 0.45/0.05/0.25/0.25. Scale bars, 10 μm.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Phase patterns change with Lo area fraction P, with B = 100, K = 10, Q = 2, μ = 1 in Ld (dark) and 0 in Lo (bright). (A) P = 0.5. (B) P = 0.6. (C) P = 0.7.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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