title: Induction of neuron-like tubes and liposome networks by cooperative effect of gangliosides and phospholipids.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. akiyoshi.org@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itaya
authors.forename: Shin ichiro M
authors.initials: Si
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000737:chemistry; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D005732:Gangliosides; D008081:Liposomes; D008823:Micelles; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine