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Highlight – Interdigitation resulting from molecular asymmetry as key for spontaneous lipid nanotube formation

par Villanueva, Martin Eduardo;Bar, Laure;Ruysschaert, Jean Marie ;Bouchet, Ana Maria;Losada Perez, Patricia
Référence Advances in Biomembranes and Lipid Self-Assembly, 40, page (25-32)
Publication Publié, 2024-01-01

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

In this highlight, we show a recent finding by our group, namely, the spontaneous formation of helical tubes by a glycolipid, ohmline, below its main transition temperature. Ohmline is a peculiar lipid, in that it displays significant molecular asymmetry given by the strong variation in hydrophobic chain lengths. Together with strong headgroup interactions, hydrophobic chain asymmetry induces an interdigitated phase at low temperatures, conferring ohmline the ability to self-assemble in helical tubular structures. This finding broadens the mechanisms of lipid nanotube generation and opens a door for future studies to dissect the roles of lipid molecular features, in particular, molecular asymmetry, with a view to achieve a more complete a rational approach to molecular design. The Table of Content image is a representation of the phase transition of ohmline, which leads to the morphological change from vesicles to nanotubes (and vice-versa) upon in-situ heating/cooling of the solid-supported lipid structures.