title: Shape Transformations of Lipid Bilayers Following Rapid Cholesterol Uptake.
abstract: High cholesterol levels in the blood increase the risk of atherosclerosis. A common explanation is that the cholesterol increase in the plasma membrane perturbs the shape and functions of cells by disrupting the cell signaling pathways and the formation of membrane rafts. In this work, we show that after enhanced transient uptake of cholesterol, mono-component lipid bilayers change their shape similarly to cell membranes in vivo. The bilayers either expel lipid protrusions or spread laterally as a result of the ensuing changes in their lipid density, the mechanical constraints imposed on them, and the properties of cyclodextrin used as a cholesterol donor. In light of the increasingly recognized link between membrane tension and cell behavior, we propose that the physical adaptation of the plasma membrane to cholesterol uptake may play a substantial role in the biological response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.affiliation: Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.affiliation: University of California Merced, Merced, California.
authors.forename: Anand Bala
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: margarita.staykova@durham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staykova
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C108732:methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D002784:Cholesterol