Acylglucosylceramide causes flattening and stacking of liposomes. An analogy for assembly of the epidermal permeability barrier.
When 5% of 1-(3'-O-acyl)-beta-D-glucosyl-N-(omega-hydroxyacyl)sphingosine, isolated from pig epidermis, was added to distearoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (10:1), the lipid mixture formed liposomes in phosphate buffer which were flattened and aggregated like stacks of coins. Other glycolipids from pig epidermis did not cause this phenomenon. This supports the hypothesis that the acylglucosylceramide is responsible for assembly of the lamellar granules found in epidermal cells.
D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002554:Cerebrosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D005963:Glucosylceramides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008081:Liposomes; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D013552:Swine
D002554:Cerebrosides; D005963:Glucosylceramides; D008081:Liposomes