title: Effects of a short-chain ceramide on bilayer domain formation, thickness, and chain mobililty: DMPC and asymmetric ceramide mixtures.
abstract: An important part of natural ceramides contain asymmetric hydrocarbon chains. We have used calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance to study the effect of ceramide chain asymmetry in mixtures of C8Cer with DMPC as a model system of hydrocarbon chain disparity. A phase diagram is provided along with information on the thickness of the membrane and the mobility of the chains at different temperatures both below and above the phase transition temperature of the mixtures. The results indicate a partial interdigitation of C8Cer chains in the gel phase, producing a correlation between the organization of both hemilayers. Our data suggest that the effects of ceramides on biomembranes may be bimodal and similar to those of cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Biológica-CIQUIBIC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. dcarrer@gmail.com
authors.forename: Dolores C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Carrer
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schreier
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patrito
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D002151:Calorimetry; D002518:Ceramides / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D044367:Phase Transition; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D002784:Cholesterol; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine