Changes in the morphology of cell-size liposomes in the presence of cholesterol: Formation of neuron-like tubes and liposome networks

Shin Ichiro M. Nomura, Yumi Mizutani, Kimio Kurita, Akihiko Watanabe, Kazunari Akiyoshi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Spontaneous changes in the morphology of cell-size liposomes (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, DOPC and egg PC) as model cells were investigated in the presence of cholesterol. Tube structures and liposome networks connected by the tubes were observed in the presence of 5-30% cholesterol by dark-field and laser-scanning microscopy. Furthermore, in the presence of more than 40 mol% of cholesterol, the tubes disappeared and changed to small liposomes. Thus, cholesterol induced a morphological change in giant liposomes from tubes to small liposomes. These phenomena may be related to the role of cholesterol in the morphological changes in living cells such as neurons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-169
Number of pages6
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume1669
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005 May 20
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cholesterol
  • Giant liposome
  • Lipid bilayer
  • Neuron
  • Tubular network

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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