Formation of self-assembled glycolipid nanotubes with bilayer sheets.
Rolled-up morphology of bilayer sheets in a self-assembled glycolipid nanotube (LNT) in water was carefully examined by using a cryogenic transmission electron microscope (cryo-TEM) with a rapid-freezing specimen-preparation technique. The LNTs were obtained under a series of self-assembly conditions: boiling of an aqueous dispersion of glycolipid N-(11-cis-octadecenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine, subsequent gradual cooling, and incubation at room temperature for several days. Cryo-TEM images revealed that the LNT walls consist of a multilayer structure with interlayer distance of about 4.7 nm. These layers correspond to constituent lipid bilayers. From the result of precise cryo-TEM observations and analyses, we confirmed the rolled-up morphology of the lipid bilayer sheets in a complete self-assembled glycolipid nanotube.
Yoshida
Kaname
K
Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan.
Minamikawa
Hiroyuki
H
Kamiya
Shoko
S
Shimizu
Toshimi
T
Isoda
Seiji
S
D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D006017:Glycolipids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers