title: Toward a better raft model: modulated phases in the four-component bilayer, DSPC/DOPC/POPC/CHOL.
abstract: The liquid-liquid (Ld + Lo) coexistence region within a distearoyl-phosphatidylcholine/dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine/palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (DSPC/DOPC/POPC/CHOL) mixture displays a nanoscopic-to-macroscopic transition of phase domains as POPC is replaced by DOPC. Previously, we showed that the transition goes through a modulated phase regime during this replacement, in which patterned liquid phase morphologies are observed on giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Here, we describe a more detailed investigation of the modulated phase regime along two different thermodynamic tielines within the Ld + Lo region of this four-component mixture. Using fluorescence microscopy of GUVs, we found that the modulated phase regime occurs at relatively narrow DOPC/(DOPC+POPC) ratios. This modulated phase window shifts to higher values of DOPC/(DOPC+POPC) when CHOL concentration is increased, and coexisting phases become closer in properties. Monte Carlo simulations reproduced the patterns observed on GUVs, using a competing interactions model of line tension and curvature energies. Sufficiently low line tension and high bending moduli are required to generate stable modulated phases. Altogether, our studies indicate that by tuning the lipid composition, both the domain size and morphology can be altered drastically within a narrow composition space. This lends insight into a possible mechanism whereby cells can reorganize plasma membrane compartmentalization simply by tuning the local membrane composition or line tension.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors: Shih Lin
authors: SL
authors: Goh
authors: Jonathan J
authors: JJ
authors: Amazon
authors: Gerald W
authors: GW
authors: Feigenson
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; C050294:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylglycero-3-phosphoserine; D002784:Cholesterol