Deformation of multicomponent lipid vesicles and lipid sorting

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01891
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 32010:Fundamental physical chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Takiue Takanori 九州大学, 基幹教育院, 教授 (40271100)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 濱田 勉 北陸先端科学技術大学院大学, 先端科学技術研究科, 准教授 (40432140)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: リピッドソーティング / 脂質ベシクル / 線張力 / 膜曲率 / 臨界充填パラメーター / ベシクル変形・崩壊

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study is to clarify the relationship between lipid sorting induced lipid bilayer heterogeneity and vesicle deformation behavior for multicomponent lipid vesicles. The morphological changes of vesicles are discussed in terms of changes in the molecular distribution within the bilayer for the heterogeneous state in which the liquid ordered (Lo)/liquid disordered (Ld) phase coexists. Addition of lipids with critical packing parameters (cpp) smaller than 1 promoted Lo/Ld phase separation and induced budding formation. On the other hand, addition of inverted cone lipids with cpp less than 1 induced adhesion and fusion between vesicles and necklace-like morphological changes. These were attributed to the unbalanced distribution of lipid molecules in the bilayer and coupling of membrane curvature.

Free Research Field

界面物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた研究成果は、生命機能に深く関与する生体膜の変形挙動を脂質分子の幾何学的形状との関連から明らかにし、生体膜での物質透過・輸送のメカニズムと膜の微細構造との相関の解明という生物科学分野での主要命題の解決にも波及する。さらにベシクルの形態を緻密に制御可能となり、医療・食品・化粧品等の分野で実用化されている材料の高度化・高機能化が進むとともに、不均一な膜構造と膜曲率を利用した機能性タンパク質やペプチドの結合・集積による人工チャネルの構築や自己再生産機能を有する人工細胞の創製へと展開が可能となる。