CHED 339 |
| The existence of cholesterol domains or “rafts” in the plasma membrane has been extensively studied with model membranes such as liposomes and Langmuir monolayers. There is much evidence of the formation of these domains in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Domains are a result of molecular interactions, such as electrostatic and hydrogen bonding, and can be observed through fluorescence microsopy. However, in order to determine specifically what molecular interactions affect domain formation, a more systematic approach of non-ideal mixing can be employed. We are exploring the existence of lipid-cholesterol domains in the inner leaflet through the use of Langmuir monolayer non-ideal mixing experiments. Previous measurements with phosphatidylethanolamine monolayers suggested the existence of inner leaflet cholesterol domains (1). Considering the anionic nature of the inner leaflet, we propose the use of phosphatidylseine/cholesterol and phosphatidylinositol/cholesterol monolayers to confirm the existence of inner leaflet domains. (1) McQuaw, C.M.; Sostarecz,A.G.; Zheng, L.; Ewing, A.G.; Winograd, N. Langmuir 21, 807 (2005).
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |