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Sub-resolution lipid domains exist in the plasma membrane and regulate protein diffusion and distribution

Author

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  • Dylan M. Owen

    (Centre for Vascular Research and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales)

  • David J. Williamson

    (Centre for Vascular Research and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales)

  • Astrid Magenau

    (Centre for Vascular Research and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales)

  • Katharina Gaus

    (Centre for Vascular Research and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales)

Abstract

Lipid microdomains are postulated to regulate many membrane-associated processes but have remained highly controversial. Here we provide the first direct evidence that the plasma membrane of intact, live cells is comprised of a sub-resolution mixture of approximately 76% ordered and 24% disordered lipid domains, which correspond to liquid-ordered and -disordered model membranes. These measurements were based on the unmixing of fluorescence lifetime decays (phasor analysis) obtained from environmentally sensitive membrane dyes that report the degree of lipid packing. Using the transmembrane protein Linker for Activation of T cells (LAT) as an example, we demonstrate that association with ordered domains retarded LAT diffusion and decreased clustering in meso-scaled protein domains as analysed by super-resolution microscopy. Our data therefore propose a membrane model in which the majority of the plasma membrane is covered by cholesterol-dependent, ordered lipid domains that contribute to the non-random distribution and diffusion of membrane constituents.

Suggested Citation

  • Dylan M. Owen & David J. Williamson & Astrid Magenau & Katharina Gaus, 2012. "Sub-resolution lipid domains exist in the plasma membrane and regulate protein diffusion and distribution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-8, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2273
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2273
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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Ukleja & Lara Kricks & Gabriel Torrens & Ilaria Peschiera & Ines Rodrigues-Lopes & Marcin Krupka & Julia García-Fernández & Roberto Melero & Rosa Campo & Ana Eulalio & André Mateus & María López, 2024. "Flotillin-mediated stabilization of unfolded proteins in bacterial membrane microdomains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.

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