Fabrication and Characterization of Asymmetric Phosphoinositide-Containing Vesicles

Sims, Nikayla D.

Student Work

Fabrication and Characterization of Asymmetric Phosphoinositide-Containing Vesicles

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The characterization of biological membranes has been improved through recent studies, which have brought about the development of biomimetic model membrane systems. Using these biomimetic systems, the lipid raft hypothesis has been established, which divides the membrane into liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases with lipids and proteins segregating into the phase with the appropriate physical properties. To further elucidate the interactions in the biological membrane, an asymmetric biological membrane system was developed to accurately mimic the asymmetry in native membranes. The link between phosphoinositide (PIP) mediated signaling and lipid rafts has been analyzed in multiple studies, and it has been suggested that PIPs cluster into lipid rafts. Investigations into the interactions between lipid rafts and PIP can provide potential mechanisms behind PIP signaling events in the biological membrane. The presence of cholesterol in lipid rafts is believed to stabilize the interactions between the head groups of the PIP and allow the acyl chains to pack tightly and therefore accumulate heavily in liquid-ordered domains. The segregation of PIP into specific phases can be influenced by interactions between the opposing leaflets in the membrane, this is known as interleaflet coupling. In order to further analyze the impacts of interleaflet coupling on PIP segregation into lipid raft domains, an asymmetric PI(4,5)P2-containing model system was fabricated.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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