Journal article
Multifrequency AFM reveals lipid membrane mechanical properties and the effect of cholesterol in modulating viscoelasticity
- Abstract:
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The physical properties of lipid bilayers comprising the cell membrane occupy the current spotlight of membrane biology. Their traditional representation as a passive 2D fluid has gradually been abandoned in favor of a more complex picture: an anisotropic time-dependent viscoelastic biphasic material, capable of transmitting or attenuating mechanical forces that regulate biological processes. In establishing new models, quantitative experiments are necessary when attempting to develop suitable techniques for dynamic measurements. Here, we map both the elastic and viscous properties of the model system 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid bilayers using multifrequency atomic force microscopy (AFM), namely amplitude modulation–frequency modulation (AM–FM) AFM imaging in an aqueous environment. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of cholesterol (Chol) on the DPPC bilayer in concentrations from 0 to 60%. The AM–AFM quantitative maps demonstrate that at low Chol concentrations, the lipid bilayer displays a distinct phase separation and is elastic, whereas at higher Chol concentration, the bilayer appears homogenous and exhibits both elastic and viscous properties. At low-Chol contents, the Estorage modulus (elastic) dominates. As the Chol insertions increases, higher energy is dissipated; and although the bilayer stiffens (increase in Estorage), the viscous component dominates (Eloss). Our results provide evidence that the lipid bilayer exhibits both elastic and viscous properties that are modulated by the presence of Chol, which may affect the propagation (elastic) or attenuation (viscous) of mechanical signals across the cell membrane.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 2.7MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1073/pnas.1719065115
Authors
- Publisher:
- National Academy of Sciences
- Journal:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences More from this journal
- Volume:
- 115
- Issue:
- 11
- Pages:
- 2658-2663
- Publication date:
- 2018-02-26
- Acceptance date:
- 2018-02-05
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1091-6490
- ISSN:
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0027-8424
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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pubs:826824
- UUID:
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uuid:c2bf41dc-15e9-42d9-be64-285b0346385f
- Local pid:
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pubs:826824
- Source identifiers:
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826824
- Deposit date:
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2018-02-27
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Al-Rekabi and Contera
- Copyright date:
- 2018
- Notes:
- This is the author accepted manuscript following peer review version of the article. The final version is available online from National Academy of Sciences at: 10.1073/pnas.1719065115
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