Issue 50, 2018

High-resolution mapping and recognition of lipid domains using AFM with toxin-derivatized probes

Abstract

Cellular membrane lateral organization, in particular the assembly of lipids in domains, is difficult to evaluate at high resolution. Here, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate at high-resolution lipid membranes containing variable amounts of sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (Chol), two abundant membrane lipids. To this end, we developed new AFM tip functionalization strategies to specifically probe SM and Chol. Multiparametric AFM imaging allowed us to highlight the lateral submicrometric organization of these two lipids within lipid bilayers through the simultaneous topographic evidence of different phase regimes together with the extraction of their nanomechanical properties and the specific detection of lipid moieties by functionalized AFM probes. The combination of AFM topography and nanomechanical mapping with specific probes for molecular recognition of lipids represents a novel approach to identify lipid-enriched domains in supported bilayers and offers a unique perspective to directly observe lipid assemblies in living cells.

Graphical abstract: High-resolution mapping and recognition of lipid domains using AFM with toxin-derivatized probes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
20 Cig 2018
Accepted
17 Cax 2018
First published
29 Cax 2018

Chem. Commun., 2018,54, 6903-6906

High-resolution mapping and recognition of lipid domains using AFM with toxin-derivatized probes

A. C. Dumitru, L. Conrard, C. Lo Giudice, P. Henriet, M. Veiga-da-Cunha, S. Derclaye, D. Tyteca and D. Alsteens, Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 6903 DOI: 10.1039/C8CC02201A

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