Equilibrium-fluctuation-analysis of single liposome binding events reveals how cholesterol and Ca2+ modulate glycosphingolipid trans-interactions
Journal article, 2013

Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions (CCIs) are of central importance for several biological processes. However, the ultra-weak nature of CCIs generates difficulties in studying this interaction, thus only little is known about CCIs. Here we present a highly sensitive equilibrium-fluctuation-analysis of single liposome binding events to supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) based on total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy that allows us to determine apparent kinetic rate constants of CCIs. The liposomes and SLBs both contained natural Le(x) glycosphingolipids (Gal beta 4( Fuc alpha 3) GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta 4Glc beta 1Cer), which were employed to mimic cell-cell contacts. The kinetic parameters of the self-interaction between Le(x)-containing liposomes and SLBs were measured and found to be modulated by bivalent cations. Even more interestingly, upon addition of cholesterol, the strength of the CCIs increases, suggesting that this interaction is strongly influenced by a cholesterol-dependent presentation and/or spatial organization of glycosphingolipids in cell membranes.

cell-adhesion

supported lipid-bilayers

membranes

system

recognition

carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions

qcm-d

mismatch discrimination

model

unilamellar vesicles

antigens

Author

Angelika Kunze

University of Gothenburg

Marta Bally

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Biological Physics

Fredrik Höök

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Biological Physics

Göran Larson

University of Gothenburg

Scientific Reports

2045-2322 (ISSN) 20452322 (eISSN)

Vol. 3 1452

Subject Categories

Chemical Sciences

DOI

10.1038/srep01452

More information

Created

10/8/2017