GM1 asymmetry in the membrane stabilizes pores
Cell membranes are highly asymmetric and their stability against poration is crucial for survival. We investigated the influence of membrane asymmetry on electroporation of giant unilamellar vesicles with membranes doped with GM1, a ganglioside asymmetrically enriched in the outer leaflet of neurona...
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Published in | Biophysical journal Vol. 121; no. 17; pp. 3295 - 3302 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Elsevier Inc
06.09.2022
The Biophysical Society |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Cell membranes are highly asymmetric and their stability against poration is crucial for survival. We investigated the influence of membrane asymmetry on electroporation of giant unilamellar vesicles with membranes doped with GM1, a ganglioside asymmetrically enriched in the outer leaflet of neuronal cell membranes. Compared with symmetric membranes, the lifetimes of micronsized pores are about an order of magnitude longer suggesting that pores are stabilized by GM1. Internal membrane nanotubes caused by the GM1 asymmetry, obstruct and additionally slow down pore closure, effectively reducing pore edge tension and leading to leaky membranes. Our results point to the drastic effects this ganglioside can have on pore resealing in biotechnology applications based on poration as well as on membrane repair processes. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0006-3495 1542-0086 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.011 |