title: Lipid membrane domains in the brain.
abstract: The brain is characterized by the presence of cell types with very different functional specialization, but with the common trait of a very high complexity of structures originated by their plasma membranes. Brain cells bear evident membrane polarization with the creation of different morphological and functional subcompartments, whose formation, stabilization and function require a very high level of lateral order within the membrane. In other words, the membrane specialization of brain cells implies the presence of distinct membrane domains. The brain is the organ with the highest enrichment in lipids like cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, and the most recently discovered brain membrane lipid, phosphatidylglucoside, whose collective behavior strongly favors segregation within the membrane leading to the formation of lipid-driven membrane domains. Lipid-driven membrane domains function as dynamic platforms for signal transduction, protein processing, and membrane turnover. Essential events involved in the development and in the maintenance of the functional integrity of the brain depend on the organization of lipid-driven membrane domains, and alterations in lipid homeostasis, leading to deranged lipid-driven membrane organization, are common in several major brain diseases. In this review, we summarize the forces behind the formation of lipid membrane domains and their biological roles in different brain cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Brain Lipids.
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Aureli
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Grassi
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Prioni
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors: Sandro
authors: S
authors: Sonnino
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.prinetti@unimi.it.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Prinetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020404:Glycerophospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D020404:Glycerophospholipids; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C429823:phosphatidylglucose; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Cholesterol; Ganglioside; Lipid membrane domain; Lipid raft; Liquid-ordered phase; Sphingolipid